filaria

noun

fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈler-ē-ə 

plural filariae fə-ˈler-ē-ˌē  -ē-ˌī 

: any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes (Filaria, Wuchereria, and related genera) that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects

filarial

fə-ˈler-ē-əl 

adjective

filariid

fə-ˈler-ē-əd 

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin filum

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

filaria

noun

fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈlar-ē-ə, -ˈler- 

1

plural filariae -ē-ˌē  -ˌī  : any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of birds or mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects (as fleas or mosquitoes) that belong to the superfamily Filarioidea, and that for the most part were once included in the genus Filaria but are now divided among various genera (as Wuchereria and Onchocerca)

2

capitalized in former classifications : a genus of nematodes that included most of the filarial worms

filarial

-ē-əl 

adjective

filarial worms

filarial disease

filarial vectors