Methods for identification of microfilaria of Dirofilaria repens and Dipetalonema reconditum* Ananda K.J., D'Souza Placid E., Jagannath M.S. Centre of Advanced Studies, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fishery Science University, Bangalore-560 024, India *Part of M.V.Sc. thesis University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore by the first author Abstract Specific detection and differentiation based on morphology, micrometry and histochemical staining methods of microfilarial species of dogs from Mangalore and Bangalore districts of Karnataka state was made. The microfilaria of Dirofilaria repens measured 292.2±1.267 μm in length and 5.14±0.067 μm in width. They were unsheathed, with blunt head and a tapering tail and the cuticle appeared to be striated. The hook muscle cells could be appreciated near the head so also the nerve ring and excretory cell at the excretory pore region of the microfilaria. The microfilaria of D. reconditum measured 260.5±33.337 μm in length and 5.14±0.067 μm in width. They were unsheathed, had a curved tail, cephalic hook in the anterior end and the cuticle was unstriated. Histochemical staining allowed specific identification. The wriggling type of microfilariae of D. repens showed acid phosphatase activity at the anal pore region only, whereas progressively forward type showed both at anal pore and central body region. The acid phosphatase activity in the microfilariae of D. reconditum was found to be distributed uniformly throughout the body. Top Keywords Microfilaria, Dirofilaria repens, Dipetalonema reconditum, Identification. Top |