larvae (redirected from lemures)

Larvae

Immature forms of certain worms.

Mentioned in: Cutaneous Larva Migrans

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larva

[lär′və] pl. larvae

Etymology: L, specter

the early immature form of an animal, which undergoes metamorphosis to an adult form. It is one of the growth stages for some insects; the state between the egg and the pupolarval stage is the feeding stage in the growth process. larval, adj.

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larva [lahr´vah] (pl. lar´vae) (L.)

1. an independent, immature stage in the life cycle of an animal, in which it is markedly unlike the parent and must undergo changes in form and size to reach the adult stage.

2. something that resembles such an immature animal.

larva cur´rens a rapidly progressive creeping eruption caused by autoinoculation of larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis that migrate to and mature at the anus in intestinal infections with the parasite.

cutaneous larva mi´grans (larva mi´grans) a convoluted threadlike skin eruption that appears to migrate, caused by the burrowing beneath the skin of roundworm larvae, particularly of the species Ancylostoma; similar lesions are caused by the larvae of botflies. Called also creeping eruption.

ocular larva migrans infection of the eye with larvae of the roundworm Toxocara canis or T. cati, which may lodge in the choroid or retina or migrate to the vitreous; on the death of the larvae, a granulomatous inflammation occurs, the lesion varying from a translucent elevation of the retina to massive retinal detachment and pseudoglioma.

visceral larva migrans a condition due to prolonged migration by the skin larvae of animal nematodes in human tissue other than skin; commonly caused by larvae of the roundworms Toxocara canis and T. cati.