Lymphatic Filariasis

Produced by the Wellcome Trust, this animation shows the complete life cycle of tiny parasitic worms as they move between human and mosquito hosts.

Lymphatic filariasis is a disabling disease found in low-income areas of many tropical and subtropical countries. Parasitic worms multiply in the lymphatic system and release larvae into the blood. Mosquitos take up the larvae when they feed on an infected person. Once inside the mosquito, the parasite develops into a form capable of infecting another human host as it is bitten by the mosquito.

The animation contains a lot of detail and can be used with students aged 14-16+ to illustrate the transmission of disease. It may be used with younger students as an extension to their learning.

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