Brugia beaveri: microscopic morphology in host tissues and observations on its life history.

The filaria Brugia beaveri is a parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Louisiana. Its microfilariae, which circulate in the peripheral blood without any periodicity, develop to the infective stage in mosquitoes. The filaria can be transmitted in the laboratory to other raccoons, the domestic cat, and jirds (Meriones unguiculatus). The prepatent period is 70-107 days depending on the definitive host. Adult worms are found in lymphatics and associated subcutaneous tissues of raccoons and in the heart, lungs, and testes of jirds. In host tissues, the parasite is recognized by its small diameter and the morphology of the body wall. There is a thin cuticle, which is characteristically thickened in the lateral fields; in males, a lateral, internal cuticular ridge is sometimes present. The hypodermis forms large lateral chords and less conspicuous dorsal and ventral chords. Muscle cells are coelomyarian; in females there is an average of 4 cells per body quadrant and in males about 4-6. Internal organs are easily identified as to type, but do not provide any clues to species identification.

Filariasis in West Irian, Indonesia: a survey of six villages.

A survey of 1,551 inhabitants in six villages of West Irian was undertaken to determine the presence and distribution of Wuchereria bancrofti and other filariae. Results confirmed the presence of bancroftian filariasis only in low-lying inland villages and its absence from coastal villages. Microfilariae were detected in thick blood films taken during evening hours in 48 of 168 (28.5%) persons in Senggo, and 65 of 190 (34.2%) in Tamnem, a neighboring village situated to the south of the central mountain range. Males were more frequently infected than females, and infection rates tended to be highest in those of both sexes 20 years or older. Filariasis was not found in the coastal villages of Amamapare, Kokonao, Timika or the mountain village of Waa.