A Descriptive Study of Microfilarial Periodicity Based on the Timing of Blood Sample Collection among Filariasis Patients

Dendi  Aprianor; Indria Augustina; Septi Handayani; Arif Rahman Jabal; Oktaviani Naulita Turnip

doi:10.37899/journallamedihealtico.v7i4.5081

Dendi Aprianor Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Indria Augustina Departement of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Septi Handayani Departement of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Arif Rahman Jabal Departement of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Oktaviani Naulita Turnip Departement of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Palangka Raya, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37899/journallamedihealtico.v7i4.5081

Keywords: Brugia Malayi, Periodicity, Microfilariae, Filariasis, Subperiodic Nocturnal

Abstract

Filariasis is an infectious disease caused by filarial worms and transmitted through mosquito bites, with clinical manifestations and transmission closely related to the periodicity of microfilariae in peripheral blood. This study aims to determine the density of Brugia malayi microfilariae at different blood sampling times and to identify the predominant type of microfilaria periodicity in the endemic area of Luwuk Bunter Village, East Kotawaringin Regency. This study was a descriptive observational study with a longitudinal (time series) approach, using capillary blood samples from 17 patients confirmed to have filariasis, collected every four hours over a 24-hour period (total sampling). Microfilariae density was calculated per 60 µL of blood in Giemsa-stained thick blood smears, then analyzed descriptively in terms of mean, standard deviation, minimum value, and maximum value for each sampling time point. The highest average density of B. malayi microfilariae was observed at 4:00 a.m. WIB (31.65 ± 60.592; range 0–228), followed by 12:00 a.m. WIB (23.53 ± 39.789), then decreased from 08:00 WIB to a low of 12:00 WIB (4.06 ± 9.934). This pattern indicates that B. malayi in Luwuk Bunter Village exhibits a nocturnal subperiodic rhythm, with microfilarial density increasing from night through early morning but remaining detectable during the day.B. malayi microfilariae in Luwuk Bunter Village, East Kotawaringin Regency, exhibit a nocturnal subperiodic pattern with peak density at 04:00 WIB, which is important as a basis for determining the optimal time for blood sampling in filariasis surveillance activities.

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