ORGANISM 1: Wuchereria bancrofti
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
COMMON NAME: Bancroft's filariasis, elephantiasis worm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide, prevalent in the tropics and subtropics.
PATHOGENESIS: Elephantiasis, fibrosis, thrombi, lymphatic inflammation,
granulomatous infiltration.
HABITAT: Lymphatic system.
VECTOR: Mosquitoes.
RESERVOIR HOST: None.
INFECTIVE FORM: Filariform larva.
MODE OF INFECTION: Inoculation.
PERIODICITY: Nocturnal with subperiodic Pacific strains.
SPECIMEN OF CHOICE: Blood.
SPECIMEN PROCESSING: Giemsa's or Hematoxylin/Eosin stains.
Figure 4-30. Life cycle of Wuchereria bancrofti. (continued)
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