Studies on the Malayan forest rat filaria, Breinlia booliati: Periodicity and microfilaraemic patterns during the course of infection

Abstract

ABSTRACTBreinlia booliati exhibited nocturnal subperiodicity in its natural host, Rattus sabanus in contrast to experimentally infected laboratory-reared albino rats which showed irregular fluctuations of microfilariae throughout the 24 hour cycle. All the infected albino rats showed a prepatent period between 11–14 weeks postinoculation. Three patterns of microfilaraemia were discerned during the course of infection. 38/49 rats displayed a single peak, 4/49 displayed 2 peaks about 12–15 weeks apart and 7/49 showed a sustained high plateau-like pattern of microfilaraemia.Cortisone had no effect on microfilarial levels when administered to rats near postpatcncy and some at postpatency.