Brugia timori

The Filarial Genome Network

Brugia timori: A human filarial parasite from Indonesia

Biology and Epidemiology

Distribution:

Brugia timori is found in the lesser Sunda islands of the Indonesian archipelago, such asTimor . Like B. malayi it is locally confined to areas endemic to its mosquito vector

Life Cycle:

The life cycle of B. timori is almost identical to that of Wucheria bancrofti and B. malayi. It is nocturnally periodic and is transmitted by the mosquito Anopheles barbirostris which breeds in rice fields. The microfilariae have several distinguishing features: they are longer with a cephalic space length to width of about 3:1. In addition the sheath does not stain pink with Giemsa stain like B. malayi and W. bancrofti (see picture below taken from Peters and Gilles 1991). The adults also differ morphologically from B. malayi.

Pathology

 The clinical and pathological features of timorian filariasis is very similar to malayan filariasis with acute recurrent lymphagitis and filarial abscesses in the lymphatic trunk in the leg (picture below taken Peters and Gilles 1991).

Subsequent scaring over thick hard, cord like lymphatics are a hallmark of the disease. Elephantiasis resulting from timorian infection is rare.

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    last modified 01/01/96