Wolbachia and filarial febrile episode:
Lymphatic filarial parasites contain endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia.
These are rickettsia-like organisms required for homeostasis of the host parasite.
The inflammatory manifestations of lymphatic filariasis are attributable to immune responses directed to Wolbachia.
Filarial parasites stimulate innate inflammatory responses.
This is absent if the bacteria have been cleared with antibiotics.
Severe inflammatory responses have been observed when Wolbachia are released into the blood following death of the worms after antifilarial chemotherapy.
The pathogenic role of Wolbachia endosymbiotic bacteria in filarial diseases is proved. The early inflammatory responses including TLR4-mediated signalling, chemokine and cytokine responses and inflammatory cell recruitment is seen in filarial disease. The impact of the discovery and characterization of Wolbachia on filarial worm is ascertained.
Wolbachia bacteria in a section of female Wuchereria worm.