What Is Wuchereria Bancrofti?
Wuchereria bancrofti is a human parasitic roundworm that is the major cause of lymphatic filariasis. Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and B. timori are the three filarial species cause lymphatic filariasis. They are spread by a mosquito vector and human is the definitive host. In lymphatic filariasis, repeated episodes of inflammation and lymphedema lead to lymphatic damage, chronic swelling, and elephantiasis of the legs, arms, scrotum, vulva, and breasts .
Epidemiology
W. bancrofti occurs in the tropical and subtropical countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, many of the Pacific islands, and focal areas of Latin America. B. malayi occurs mainly in China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, …show more content…
The life cycle of filariasis begins with introduction of third-stage filarial larvae onto human skin by a mosquito during a blood meal; the larvae then migrate through the bite wound and enter local lymphatic vessels. Over a period of approximately nine months, these larvae develop into mature adult worms. Female Wuchereria worms measure 80 to 100 mm in length and 0.24 to 0.30 mm in diameter, and the males measure about 40 mm by 0.1 mm.
The adults survive for approximately five years (occasionally up to 12 to 15 years). Male and female worms mate and produce sheathed microfilariae. Wuchereria microfilariae are 244 to 296 microns by 7.5 to 10 microns. The microfilariae migrate into lymph and enter the blood stream. A mosquito ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal. In the mosquito, the microfilariae develop into third-stage larvae, which can infect another human when the mosquito takes a blood meal, completing the life cycle.The microfilariae showed nocturnal periodicity in blood with peak numbers between approximately 10 pm and 2 am. However the South Pacific microfilariae are "subperiodic" and are present in the blood at all times, with increased numbers at midday. The periodicity of the microfilariae corresponds to that of the vectors in the different …show more content…
There may be passage of cloudy, milklike urine which may denote chyluria.
• Acute phases of adenolymphangitis
Epidemiology
W. bancrofti occurs in the tropical and subtropical countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, many of the Pacific islands, and focal areas of Latin America. B. malayi occurs mainly in China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, …show more content…
The life cycle of filariasis begins with introduction of third-stage filarial larvae onto human skin by a mosquito during a blood meal; the larvae then migrate through the bite wound and enter local lymphatic vessels. Over a period of approximately nine months, these larvae develop into mature adult worms. Female Wuchereria worms measure 80 to 100 mm in length and 0.24 to 0.30 mm in diameter, and the males measure about 40 mm by 0.1 mm.
The adults survive for approximately five years (occasionally up to 12 to 15 years). Male and female worms mate and produce sheathed microfilariae. Wuchereria microfilariae are 244 to 296 microns by 7.5 to 10 microns. The microfilariae migrate into lymph and enter the blood stream. A mosquito ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal. In the mosquito, the microfilariae develop into third-stage larvae, which can infect another human when the mosquito takes a blood meal, completing the life cycle.The microfilariae showed nocturnal periodicity in blood with peak numbers between approximately 10 pm and 2 am. However the South Pacific microfilariae are "subperiodic" and are present in the blood at all times, with increased numbers at midday. The periodicity of the microfilariae corresponds to that of the vectors in the different …show more content…
There may be passage of cloudy, milklike urine which may denote chyluria.
• Acute phases of adenolymphangitis