Morphological Study of Microfilariae Found in the Area of Yongju-Gun

영주지방에 분포하는 사상충 자충에 대한 형태학적 연구

The object to this study is to identify the genus and species of the microfilariae which were recently found in the area of Youngju-Gun. THe identification of the microfilariae was made on the morphologicla aspects. 1. Blood samples were collected through vena punction from known microfilariae carriers living in the newly confirmed filaria endemic area of Youngju0Gun in Jyongsang Pukdo Province. Youngju-Gun is located in the mountainous central part of Korean Peninsula. 2. The following fixation and staining techniques were applied. (1) Fixation by drying in the air, followed by staining with Azeo or Giemsa. (2) Knott's fixation method (2% formalin), followed by staining with Azur II. 3. A comparative study of the body length of the microfilariae after different fixation and staining techniques were applied. (1) Knott's fixation method followed by staining with Azur II : average body length found was 28.4$\mu$. (2) Dry fixation followed by staining with Giemsa : average body length found was 209.4$\mu$. (3) Dry fixation followed by staining with Azeo : average body length found was 205.4$\mu$. 4. The locations of the different body cells were measured in 60 individuals of microfilariae in the wet preparation fixed by Knott's method and stained with Azur II. The distance of the different body cells to cephalic apex of microfilariae was measured and calculated as a percentage of the total body length. The average results are as follows : BNC , 3.04% ; N, 22.74%, EP, 31.4% ; EC, 37.77%, G1 cell , 67.94%; G2 cell, 73.54% : G3 cell , 75.55% ; G4 cell, 77.65% ; AP, 82.02%%. 5. As a result of the above findings the microfilariae found in the above mentioned area could be identified as Brugia malai(BRUG, 1927) BUCKLEY, 1960.