Advances in filariasis especially concerning periodicity of microfilariae

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Abstract
1. 1. A review is given of some advances in our knowledge about filariasis during the past ten years. 2. 2. It is urged that investigations should be continued on methods to facilitate the control of filariasis in large populations, by means of diethylcarbamazine—e.g. incorporation of the compound in cooking salt, as was done with chloroquine against malaria. Furthermore, steps should be taken to protect young people against filariasis by systematic treatment in the schools. 3. 3. In order to understand the cyclical disappearance of microfilariae from the peripheral blood and their accumulation in the lungs, the movements of microfilariae in the pulmonary capillaries has been studied by cinematography. Apparently their accumulation in the lungs is not due to mechanical retention, but perhaps they migrate round and round in the pre-capillary network of arterioles. 4. 4. The periodicity of microfilariae is best considered as a biological rhythm. Apparently the microfilariae have a circadian rhythm of their own which is entrained and synchronized by stimuli from the circadian rhythm of the host. 5. 5. Judging by experiments with monkeys containing microfilariae of Edesonfilaria malayensis, the most effective of these stimuli from the host seems to be the rhythmic variation of body temperature which occurs every 24 hours.

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