Filariasis
/ˌfɪləˈraɪəsɪs/noun
A disease caused by infection with threadlike parasitic filarial worms, often transmitted by mosquitoes or other biting insects.
Did you know?The name refers to the threadlike appearance of the worms, while some filarial parasites have life cycles involving mosquitoes, flies, or other blood-feeding insects.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷʰis-lom
“A reconstructed root associated with thread or fiber; the precise preform is debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
filum
“Thread, string, or fiber.”
18th Century
New Latin
Filaria
“A zoological genus name for threadlike parasitic worms, formed from Latin filum, “thread.””
19th Century
Medical Latin
filaria
“A filarial worm or worm belonging to the group later known as filarial nematodes.”
19th Century
Medical English
filariasis
“Disease or infestation caused by filarial worms, using the medical suffix -iasis for a pathological condition.”
Modern English
English
filariasis
“A group of parasitic diseases caused by filarial worms, including lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.”