Thelaziasis
Eyeworms
Common Name of Organism | Latin Name | Body Parts Affected | Diagnosis Type | Where Found | Source of Parasite |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thelaziasis / Eyeworms | Thelazia californiensis, Thelazia callipaeda | Eyes | Ocular examination | Globally | Dogs, cats, birds, mammals, humans |
Dormancy Period: Days to 1 year.
Thelaziasis is the term for infestation with parasitic nematodes of the genus Thelazia. The adults of all Thelazia species discovered so far inhabit the eyes and associated tissues (such as eyelids, tear ducts, etc.) of various mammal and bird hosts, including humans. Thelazia nematodes are often referred to as “eyeworms”. In animal and human hosts, infestation by Thelazia may be asymptomatic, though it frequently causes watery eyes (epiphora), conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, or corneal ulcers (ulcerative keratitis). Infested humans have also reported “foreign body sensation” – the feeling that something is in the eye.
The larvae develop into adults in the eye or surrounding tissues of the host, where they may live for over one year.
Thelazia have been found in various tissues of the orbit (or socket) of the eye, including within the eyelids, in the tear glands, tear ducts, or the so-called “third eyelid” (nictitating membrane) or in the eyeball itself.
Human cases are treated by simply removing the worms. In canines, topical imidacloprid with moxidectin, or milbemycin oxime (Interceptor).
Therapure Remedies: Neem Soap with scrub glove, Vita Bath with CP SO, CP PAR-D. CP PAR-M, CP PIN, CP PRS, CP SPQ, CP 1-5, CP ID, Steamer Therapy on eyes with CP B or R Tinctures. Therapure Bug Juice, CP ED eyedrops.
Jamu Jo: JJ 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15.
IV Therapy: Glutathione, DMSO, CP ID, CP IN, CP IZ, CP IS, Lysine, Magnesium, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin D, Zinc.
Conventional Remedies: Treated by simply removing the worms. Ivermectin, levamisole, doramectin. In animals, topical imidacloprid with moxidectin, or milbemycin oxime (Interceptor)