Filariasis in Southeast Asia

Filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and B timori is unevenly distributed in Southeast Asia. While B malayi and B timori infections are seen in the rural areas, W bancrofti is both an urban and rural problem. Control programmes in areas of subperiodic B malayi are complicated by zoonotic transmission mainly from reservoir hosts in some countries. The clinical features and laboratory diagnosis of brugian and bancroftian filariasis are discussed.