PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 4 - Filaria WUCHERERIA BANCROFTI

USTMED ’07 Sec C – AsM; Photos provided by JV.N.

Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilaria
BRUGIA MALAYI
Brugia malayi, Microfilariae, Hematoxylin Stain

1 2

At higher magnification, the discrete nature of the nuclei in the

nuclei column is well demonstrated in thick blood film. The shape
of the tail and the distribution of nuclei therein are especially
clear in Figure 2.
1 2

Fig 1. This microfilaria is about the same size as that of W.

bancrofti and has a sheath. In contrast to W. bancrofti, the B.
malayi microfilaria has a long cephalic space, a compact column
of nuclei, and a tail with subterminal and a terminal nucleus
separated by a short constriction. In thick films, this microfilaria
does not exhibit the smooth, graceful curves of W. bancrofti.

Fig 2. Microfilaria from Knott concentration. This microfilaria

demonstrates the typical morphologic features of this species,
following preservation and concentration in 2% formalin, and
staining with hematoxylin. Note the dot-like terminal and
subterminal nuclein in the tail.
In hematoxylin-stained thick blood films, it is evident that the
microfilaria has a sheath, short cephalic space, well demarcated
anatomical landmarks, and a pointed tail devoid of nuclei (A).
Occasionally, the lightly stained sheath is shed by the microfilaria
before the blood film dries (b).

Microfilaria of W. bancrofti in thick

blood film.

3 4
Microfilariae in thick blood films. The terminal and subterminal
Wuchereria bancrofti Microfilaria
nuclei may not be evident in all microfilariae. Note the apparent
absence of the subterminal nucleus in Figure 3. At high
magnification (Fig 4), all the salient morphologic features are
evident.

Brugia malayi, Microfilariae, thick blood films, Giemsa’s stain

1 2

In Giemsa-stained thick or thin blood films, the sheath of the

microfilaria takes a pink stain, and the nuclear column stains an
intense blue so that individual nuclei may be difficult to see.

3 4

LOA LOA

At high magnification, note the long cephalic space and the Loa loa
structure of the tail. Even though the terminal and subterminal
nuclei (arrows) have failed to stain, their position in the tail and
the constriction between them is apparent in fig 4.
 characteristic terminal and subterminal tail nuclei. However, as
illustrated here, and in contrast to B. malayi, the sheath does not
stain with Giemsa’s stain.

ANGIOSTRONGYLUS CANTONENSIS

The microfilaria of this species is large and has a sheath. The

nuclear column is densely stained and compact, and, distally, it is
reduced to a column of five or six single, unevenly spaced nuclei.
Occasionally, the microfilaria may shed its sheath (arrow) in thick
blood films (fig3).

DRACUNCULUS MEDINENSIS

Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Adult female

Note: “Barber pole”

appearance which is
made up of the dark
red intestine tract
filled with blood
intertwined with a
pair of the white
genital tract.

BRUGIA TIMORI Adult male

Posterior end showing small bursa and

two copulatory spicules.

(..didn’t bother magnifying image, …

couldn’t see the bursa and copulatory
spicules even with Adobe)

ONCOCERCA VOLVULUS

Brugi timori, microfilariae in thick blood films, Giemsa’s stain.

This microfilariae, first described in humans in 1967, has the
characteristics of the genus Brugia. The microfilariae has a
sheath, a densely
Humans are incidental
hosts. Passage of larvae in
humans has never been
documented and humans do
not transmit either A.
cantonensis or A
costaricensis.
stained
Causes eosinophilic meningitis, nuclear
a meningoencephalitis
characterized by eosinophlia in column,
the CSF. Common in parts of and the 1 2
Southern Asia and Pacific
islands, Africa and the
Caribbean (A. cantonensis)
Causes eosinophilic __________, an
eosinophilic inflammation of the
mesenteric arterioles of the ileocecal
region of the gastro-intestinal tract
that mimics appendicitis. Common in
parts of Central and South America
(A. costaricensis) Eggs hatch in the lungs,
and first-stage larvae
are passed in rodent
feces (A. cantonensis)
3 4

Third-stage larvae Fig1. unstained microfilaria teased from skin snip. The unstained
are ingested by rats microfilaria is large, lacks a sheath, and has an attenuated,
pointed tail that invariably flexed.

First-stage larvae
infect snails and
slugs
Fig2. Giemsa-stained microfilaria from teased skin snip. The
Eggs hatch in the nuclear column may be densely packed and deeply stained. The
lungs, and first- cephalic space is longer than it is wide, and the nerve ring space
stage larvae are is well demarcated. The nuclear column does not extend to the
passed in rodent
feces (A. tail end of the body. The terminal portion of the tail, which lacks
cantonensis) nuclei, may be difficult to see in some preparations.

Humans become infected through food Slugs and snails are

containing third-stage (infective) larvae. intermediate hosts, and after 2
Food may include uncooked snails or months, the larvae reach the
slugs, vegetables contaminated with infective (third) stage.
snails, slugs, or mollusk _________ or
infested paratenic hosts (i.e. crabs,
freshwater shrimp)
Fig3. Hematoxylin-stained microfilaria teased from skin snip.

Fig4. Hematoxylin-eosin-
stained section of human skin,
one can see portions of
microfilariae (arrows) in the
superficial layer of the dermis.

Oncocerca volvulus subcutaneous

tissue of thorax (human)

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