microfilaria

American  

[mahy-kroh-fi-lair-ee-uh] / ˌmaɪ kroʊ fɪˈlɛər i ə /

noun

plural

microfilariae

1. the embryonic larva of the nematode parasite Filaria or of related genera, especially of those species that cause heartworm in dogs and elephantiasis in humans.

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microfilaria British  

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊfɪˈlɛərɪə /

noun

1. zoology the early larval stage of certain parasitic nematodes (filariae), found in the blood of infected individuals

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Etymology

Origin of microfilaria

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; micro-, filaria

Example Sentences

"The microfilaria are just scattered throughout their brains, and even though the damage from each is miniscule, they're basically shot-gunning the whole brain," said Kyle Taylor, a pathologist at WSU's Washington Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory.

From Science Daily

It works by capturing video of a blood sample and looking for the characteristic "wriggling" motion of Loa loa microfilaria.

From The Verge

This is supposed to be due to the fact that the disease-producing parasites have died and that the lymphatics have become so obstructed that any microfilariæ they may contain cannot make their way into the general circulation.

From Project Gutenberg