絲蟲是由節(jié)肢動物傳播的一類線蟲,寄生于人體的已知有8種,其中班氏絲蟲和馬來絲蟲引起的淋巴絲蟲病（Filariasis)及由盤尾絲蟲所致的"河盲癥"對人類危害最嚴重。我國只有前兩種：班氏吳策線蟲（Wuchereria bancrofti)和馬來布魯線蟲（Brugia malayi)。
一、形態(tài)
成蟲
乳白色，細長如絲線，體長不到1cm；雄蟲尾端卷曲半到3圈，具交合刺。雌蟲大于雄蟲，尾端直。
班氏與馬來微絲蚴形態(tài)鑒別
|
項目 |
班氏微絲蚴 |
馬來微絲蚴 |
| 體態(tài) 頭隙 尾核 |
柔和，彎曲 較大較短，長短于寬；清晰可數(shù) 無 |
硬直，大彎上有小彎 較長，長大于寬；不易數(shù)清 有2個，前后排列 |
Microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti
stained with haematoxylin. Sheath is visible at the posterior end. ×400. Enlarged by 5.4.
Microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti
stained with Giemsa. Sheath is not stained, but appears as an empty space. ×400. Enlarged by 5.4.
Microfilaria of Brugia malayi
stained with Giemsa. The sheath takes a dark pink stain. ×400. Enlarged by 5.4.
Microfilaria of Brugia malayi
showing the terminal nuclei and the darkly staining sheath. Giemsa. ×800. Enlarged by 5.4.
Microfilaria of Brugia malayi
showing the terminal nuclei. Acridine orange. ×800. Enlarged by 5.4.
感染期幼蟲又叫絲狀蚴，寄生于蚊體內(nèi)，為感染階段。
