Wuchereria bancrofti: Freeze-Fracture Study of the Epicuticle of Microfilariae

The freeze–fracture technique was used to analyze the surface of microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. The examination of thin sections showed that the epicuticle is formed by two closely apposed membrane-like structures, appearing as heptalaminated structures. Freeze–fracture replicas revealed the presence of two fracture faces. The Outer one is smooth but presents rosette-like structures. The inner face, which is in contact with the hypodermal cells, presents a large number of particles.