Brugia spp. - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Brugia spp.

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Brugia malayi, B. timori, filariasis, Brugian filariasis, Malayan filariasis, Timorean filariasis

CHARACTERISTICS: Filarial parasite (nematode), sheathed microfilariae are 200-300 µm in length and 4-7 µm in width

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Characterized by recurring lymphadenitis and lymphangitis accompanied with fever; lymphatic abscesses and consequent scarring are common features; lymphedema appears and progresses to elephantiasis usually confined to the distal extremities in a small proportion of cases

EPIDEMIOLOGY: B. malayi endemic in Southeast Asia, rural southwest India, Sri Lanka, China and South Korea: B. timori found in Timor, Flores, Alor, Roti, and South East Indonesia

HOST RANGE: Humans, cats, civet, nonhuman primates and mosquitoes

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By the bite of an infected mosquito; B. malayi transmitted by various species of Mansonia, Anopheles and Aedes; B. timori transmitted by Anopheles barbirostris

INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable; allergic manifestations may appear as early as a month after infection; microfilariae may not appear in blood until 3-6 months after infection.

COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person; microfilariae may persist for 5 years or longer after initial infection; mosquito becomes infective about l2-l4 days after an infective blood meal

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans with microfilariae in the blood (B. malayi and B. timori); cats, civets, nonhuman primates and mosquitoes (B. malayi)

ZOONOSIS: Yes - infection acquired by a mosquito bite

VECTORS: Yes - mosquitoes (Mansonia, Anopheles and Aedes spp.)

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to diethylcarbamazine (DEC)

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to drying

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Sensitive to freezing

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by microscopic demonstration of microfilariae in blood

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: Daily dose of diethylcarbamazine (DEC)

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood specimens

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion; accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of mucous membrane

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving the parasite, infectious or potentially infectious body fluids or tissues

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal: steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001