This is the first in a series dedicated to the understanding of tropical diseases. This volume examines the basic biology and clinical expression of lymphatic-dwelling filarial parasites, parasites affecting over 128 million people in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although it is responsible for the disfiguring elephantiasis, infection with this parasite leads to a spectrum of clinical manifestations. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of infection, its epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this often devastating vector-borne diseases will be the focus of this book.