filaria
noun
fi·lar·ia
fə-ˈler-ē-ə 
plural filariae
fə-ˈler-ē-ˌē
-ē-ˌī
-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
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“Filaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filaria. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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)
-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
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