Clinical epidemiology of filariasis due to Brugia malayi on a rubber estate in West Malaysia
Dondero, T.J.; Menon, V.V.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 3(3): 355-365
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 4652465 Document Number: 52361
Of 350 people examined on a rubber estate in a swampy region of Dindings, Perak, West Malaysia, 12% had Brugia malayi microfilariae. Periodicity studies on 12 carriers revealed diurnal and nocturnal sub-periodic patterns. 26 subjects had lymphoedema or elephantiasis or both, limited to the legs. Males were more commonly affected parasitologically and clinically than females and clinical disease was much greater among Indians than Malays, possibly reflecting the considerably younger ages of the latter. A higher proportion of workers had microfilaraemia and clinical disease than non-working dependents. 2 of 9 estate cats had microfilariae of B. malayi and 10 of 11 dogs were positive for Dirofilaria immitis.