Bancroftian and brugian lymphatic filariasis

[Justin Bieber]

Lymphatic filariasis is infection with any of 3 species of Filarioidea. Acute symptoms include fever, lymphadenitis, lymphangitis, epididymitis, and funiculitis (inflammation of the spermatic cord). Chronic symptoms include abscesses, hyperkeratosis, polyarthritis, hydroceles, lymphedema, and elephantiasis. Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia with bronchospasm, fever, and pulmonary infiltrates is another manifestation of infection. Diagnosis is by detection of microfilariae in blood, ultrasound visualization of adult worms in lymphatics, or serologic testing. Treatment is with diethylcarbamazine ; antibiotics are used for complicating bacterial cellulitis.
(See also Approach to Parasitic Infections and Overview of Filarial Nematode Infections.)
Bancroftian filariasis is present in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, including Haiti. Brugian filariasis is endemic in South and Southeast Asia.
Mass treatment programs have reduced the prevalence in many areas, but worldwide there are still an estimated 120 million people with lymphatic filariasis.
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti (about 90% of cases), Brugia malayi, or B. timori. Transmission is by mosquitoes. Infective larvae from the mosquito migrate to the lymphatics, where they develop into threadlike adult worms within 6 to 12 months. Females are 80 to 100 mm long; males are about 40 mm long. Gravid adult females produce microfilariae that circulate in blood.