A REVIEW UPDATE ON DETECTION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Wuchereria Bancrofti

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is classified as Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) which are transmitted to humans through repeated mosquito bites. The disease is caused by filarial worms; Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. Among the three main parasites causing lymphatic filariasis, Wucereria bancrofti principally accounts for about 90% of lymphatic filariasis whereas the remaining 10% are caused by Brugia malayi and Brugia timori. The disease has no obvious symptoms at an early stage however, if left untreated, eventually leads to several clinical manifestations like hydrocele, recurrent adenolymphangitis, lymphedema, elephantiasis, or tropical pulmonary eosinophilia. In addition LF affects both males and females adults as well as children below the age of 15 years. According to World Health Organization (WHO), globally LF affect more than 72 countries, in Africa about 39 African countries are affected which represent a third of the global burden. Global Program for the Control and Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPLELF) was later established to provide sustained delivery of drugs to affected communities for the purpose of stopping mass transmission of the disease, and ultimately eliminate this burden on public health. Hence, this review mainly used Google scholar, ISI, SCOPUS and PubMed Indexed Journals reporting various studies on Lf involving both mosquito-vectors and infected human population. Accordingly, this review enhances our understanding on the detection, diagnosis pathogenesis and molecular mechanism of the Lf as well as the host-pathogen relation.