Team Leader: Mwesigye Vicent – Lecturer Parasitology & Entomology
Topic: Unseen Burden: The Parasitic Landscape of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Global Health Impact
Case Focus: Elephantiasis (Lymphedema) Caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.
The session will be chaired by Mwesigye Vicent – Lecturer Parasitology & Entomology department of Medical Laboratory Science.
Target audience: All healthcare professionals and all students in Faculty of Medicine.
Learning outcomes; Diagnostic criteria, management options and interdisciplinary approach to Elephantiasis management.
Over View: Elephantiasis, medically referred to as Lymphatic Filariasis, is a debilitating condition caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, a parasitic worm transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease causes extreme swelling of limbs (lymphedema), disfigurement, and immense social stigma, especially in impoverished and tropical communities.
This neglected tropical disease (NTD) continues to affect millions globally, with long-term disability, secondary infections, and psychological consequences. Diagnosis includes clinical evaluation and laboratory identification of microfilariae in blood samples.
Efforts in quality assurance, vector control, mass drug administration (MDA), and community awareness remain central to prevention and elimination. This session highlights the clinical, laboratory, and public health aspects of Elephantiasis through case-based learning.
Structure:
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Introduction: Mwesigye Vicent
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Case presentation: Tendo
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Clinical diagnosis: Pathogenesis, Signs and symptoms – Azaria/Christopher.
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Lab diagnosis: Patient preparation, specimen collection, transportation, analysis, result interpretation – Okeny/ Jovani / Herbert.
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Quality assurance: Nuwagaba / Yusufu.
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Prevention and control: Petersen / Happiness.
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Way forward / Concluding Remarks: Mwesigye Vicent
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94811133085?pwd=xQ6ZepDqsVsb5wcvgAtlFHCqbTvWJo.1
Meeting ID: 948 1113 3085
Passcode: 919130
