Lymphatic filariasis in humans

There are three different filarial species that can cause lymphatic filariasis in humans. The following figure shows microfilarial stage of one of these… IDENTIFY

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  1. Wuchereria bancrofti
  2. Brugia malayi
  3. Brugia timori
  4. None

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There are 3 different species that cause lymphatic filariasis in humans.

Most common cause of lymphatic filariasis worldwide Is Wuchereria bancrofti. In Asia. the disease can also be caused by Brugia malayi and Brugia timon.

Differences between W. bancrofti. B. malayi and B. timori reside in epidemiology, vectors, reservoirs, symptoms, but mainly species morphology.

WUCHERERIA BANCROFTI

The microfilariae, or larval stage of W. bancrofti. are sheathed, and range from approximately 245 to 300µm. One end of the round body Is blunt, while the other is pointed. Nuclei do not appear at the end of the tail, which is a major difference from other microfilariae.(As in figure)

B malai microfilariae range from 200 to 275 pm. Microfilariae of B. mabyi are sheathed like W. bancrofti. However. the nuclei extends neaily to the tip of the tail.

Microfilana of both B. timon and B. malayi have nuclei that extends to the tip of the tail. B. timon microfilana are slightly larger than that of B malayi.

NOTE Cricketers wear cricketing pad to paotect their leg and can be out LBW… A microfilaria which wears sheath for protection ie sheathed microfilaria can be remembered by LBW

L= Loa Loa

B = brugia sp

W = wuchreria bancrofti

Wuchreria has tail tip free of nuclei whereas rest two have nuclei in their tail tip.