Wuchereria brancofti Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are the common names for Wuchereria bancrofti?
Bancroft’s filarial worm, Bancrofti filaria
What is the habitat of adult Wuchereria bancrofti worms in humans?
Lymph nodes & lymphatic vessels
What is the habitat of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae in humans?
Blood
What is the mode of transmission for Wuchereria bancrofti?
Skin penetration (via mosquito bite)
What is the infective stage of Wuchereria bancrofti?
L3 larvae (transmitted by mosquito bites)
What is the diagnostic stage of Wuchereria bancrofti?
Microfilariae
Name the biological vectors for Wuchereria bancrofti.
Aedes, Culex, Anopheles mosquitoes
What are the general characteristics of Wuchereria bancrofti
Transparent, creamy white, long, hair-like structures; filiform in shape with both ends tapering.
Describe the morphology of a male Wuchereria bancrofti adult worm.
Posterior end is curved ventrally containing 2 spicules of unequal length.
Describe the morphology of a female Wuchereria bancrofti adult worm.
Posterior end is straight; viviparous & liberates sheathed embryos (microfilariae) into lymph from where they find their way into the blood.
Describe the general morphology of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae.
Transparent and colorless with blunt head & pointed tail; measuring 245-295 x 7.5-10 um in size; covered with a hyaline sheath which is much longer (395 um) than the microfilaria.
Is the tip of the tail of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria covered by nuclei?
No nuclei in tip of tail.
What type of periodicity do Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae exhibit in the blood, and when is their concentration highest?
Nocturnal periodicity (9 pm - 2 am, greatest concentration in blood).
What are the common laboratory diagnostic methods for Wuchereria bancrofti?
Detection of microfilariae; Detection of adult worms; Immunodiagnosis; DNA probes.
What is the drug of choice for treating Wuchereria bancrofti infection?
Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
What are some prophylactic measures against Wuchereria bancrofti infection?
Vector control (mosquito control).
In which geographical regions is Wuchereria bancrofti commonly found?
Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific, & South America.
