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

Breinlia booliati exhibited nocturnal subperiodicity in its natural host, Rattus sabanus in contrast to experimentally infected laboratory-reared albine 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 postpatency and some at postpatency.