Microfilaria Detection Test must be conducted in a well-equipped medical centre or lab with a microscopic test facility. During the test, the technician will draw a small amount of blood from the veins in your arm. They will clean the blood draw site with an alcohol balm and insert a needle into the vein that is clearly visible. The blood sample will get collected into a vial attached to the needle. The vial will be separated from the needle and labelled correctly with the patient’s details. The collected blood sample of the patient will be sent to the laboratory for detailed microscopic observation.

No special preparations are required for the Microfilaria Detection Test. But since microfilariae are active during the night-time, the blood sample should be collected between 12 midnight to 2 am and tested immediately. If the blood sample is required for other tests, then you may need to fast in some cases. If a punch biopsy or skin snips is required for the test, the necessary arrangements must be made. Do not wear a jacket or sweater while undergoing this test. Tell the technician if you have a fear of needles so that the procedure can be carried out smoothly.

No, the Microfilaria Detection Test is not painful or risky as it is like any other blood test. You may feel a slight pain or tingling sensation when the needle is inserted or drawn out of your vein. In rare cases, there may be an infection or bleeding. You should inform your healthcare provider if you experience bruises or light-headedness after this test. Drink glucose after the test if you experience weakness.

There are eight different types of filarial nematodes that use humans as their hosts. Some of them also cause infections in animals. Heartworm microfilariae are the main filarial nematodes that cause infection in animals. The eight types of filarial nematodes can be categorized into three types depending on the body part they occupy- Subcutaneous filariasis, Serous cavity filariasis, and Lymphatic filariasis. Serous cavity filariasis includes Mansonella ozzardi, Dirofilaria immitis, and Mansonella perstans. Lymphatic filariasis includes Brugia malayi, Wuchereria ancrofti, and Brugia timori. Subcutaneous filariasis includes Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa, and Mansonella streptocerca.

Microfilariae go through five different development stages. Mosquitoes and blood-feeding black flies are the reasons behind the spread of microfilaria. These parasites must infect multiple host species in order to complete their life cycles. When the female is ready to give birth, thousands of eggs are released in the host’s body. These eggs are carried by a vector insect when they bite or feast on an adult’s host body. Once inside the vector insect, the eggs enter the larval stage. When another species is bitten by these infected insects, the parasitic larvae transmit into the skin’s dermis layer. The larvae moults develop into adults inside their second host. 

The diseases caused by filariasis are treated with the help of DEC (diethylcarbamazine). Usually, the health care professional will recommend a single dose of 6mg diethylcarbamazine per kilogram of the patient’s body weight for about three weeks. If the infection is caused due to parasites of Brugia and Bancrofti, your healthcare provider may recommend Ivermectin. You should also maintain proper hygiene and eat healthy food to recover from these serious diseases.