ANALYSIS OF MICROFILARIAL PERIODICITY OF DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (3) , 333-346
Abstract
Microfilarial periodicity displayed by dogs infected with D. immitis was analyzed using a mathematical model. Samples were drawn at 3 h intervals for periods of 24 or 48 h in a series of 10 studies conducted on 4 dogs. No significant differences were observed in microfilarial concentration between samples of venous and cutaneous capillary blood. Significant correlation of observed microfilarial densities with the values predicted by the model were observed in 7 of the 10 studies with r2 values ranging from 78.5-95.3%. The periodicity index ranged from 28.33-53.50 in these 7 studies and fell in the subperiodic category. The estimated hour of peak microfilarial density was not confined to the late afternoon; values of 04:00 and 22:00 h were observed. D. immitis microfilaremia are not diurnal or nocturnal. The behavior of the experimental dogs indicated that emotional and environmental stresses placed on the host may induce transients in the microfilarial density that may overwhelm or obscure the periodicity function.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: