Three nematode species viz., ,Wuchereria
bancrofti, Brugia malayi and
Brugia timori are the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis. Wuchereria bancrofti is responsible
for over 98% of disease burden.
Three nematode species viz., ,Wuchereria
bancrofti, Brugia malayi and
Brugia timori are the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis. Wuchereria bancrofti is responsible
for over 98% of disease burden.
The adult worms are thread like and measure 4-10 cms in length.
They habitat the lymphatic system of man.
The female and male worms mate within the human host and the fertilized female worms liberate thousands of embryos, known as microfilariae.(mf)
According to time of appearance of mf in peripheral blood, they are classified into
Nocturnally periodic,
Nocturnally Sub Periodic
and Diurnally sub periodic traces.
The mf circulating in peripheral blood are ingested by the vector mosquito along with blood meal. Within the mosquito they undergo development and reaches the infective stage in 12-13 days.
The infective stage larvae are transmitted to human host through mosquito bites. Within the human host, the infective stage larvae develop into adult worm.