Diagnosis of {i]ariasis is established "itl1 the recovery of microfilariae from staioed thick blood films. Wucbereria bancrofti microfilariae exhibit nocturnal periodicit y while Bnigia mala~i microfilariae exhibit aocturna J but subperiodic periodici ty. Because of these char. 1Ctl'ristic periodicity, blood samples must be collected from 8:oo pm to 4:00 am. To increase the chance of finding rnicroftlariae, concentra tion techniques called Knotts's technique and nucleopore filtration are recomme nded. Filarial antigens can also be detected from the blood using a monoclonal based card test, called the ICT card test. fu the Philippines, \. Vuchereria bancrofti bas a wider geographic distribution compared 10 Brugia mala)1. Bancroftian filariasis bas been reported in Camarines None, Ca. marines Sur. Albay, Sor:sogon, Mindoro, Marinduqne, Masbate, l'alawan, Sarnar, Leyte, Bohol, Mountain Province, all of Mindanao especially Sulu, Tm~; tfmi, Basilan and Zamboanga. On the other hand, Malayan filariasis is present in Palawan, Eastern Samar, Agusan and Su Ju. Effective dn1gs arc available for the treatmen t of filariasis. A combination of d. ieiliyl carbamazine and albendazole is being utilized for the so called mnss dnig administration (!\IDA) toeliminte lymphatic filariasis. Healili education should focus on the prevention of man-mosqu ito contact l Lke the use of bed nets, repellants and chemical spraying. The use of Bacillus thuringien.,is as biological controll1as also been tried. Schistosoma japonicum This is a Ouke. Among tbe Oukes, this is the only species provided with separate sexes. Adult worms live in the portal and mesenteric veins of man and a wide range of reservoir animals like rats, monke)'S, pigs, dogs, carabaos and cows. Schistosoma eggs are deposited in the mucosa) capillaries where they undergo maturatiou and are eventually able to enter the intestinal lumen via ulcerations. Upon reaching a body of water. the embryo called miracidium is released. The miracidium then enters the snail intermed iate host which is scientifically called 0ncomelania hupensis quadrasi. Within the snail host, tl1e miracidium develops into t\vo generations of spor~ysts tl1ep into cercariae. Tiie cercaria is the Wective st. ige and it can actively penetrate Lbe bumao skin. After skin penetration, the cercaria develops into juvenile adult called schistsomula. Jt will enter the circulation, undergo tissue migration until it reaches the portal veins where it wil J develop into adult schistosome (Sec Illus. 15. 15). Entry of the cercariae into the skin may or may not result in dermatitis. At the time of egg deposition in the intestines, patient starts to manifest diarrhea with blood. The deposition of eggs in the tissues, mainly the liver, results in granuloma formation. This usually leads to portal hypertension with hepato-splenomegaly, ascites and emaciation. Many reported cases of death due to schistosomiasis were caused by rupture of esophageal varices. 384 Diagnosis of schistosom iasis is confirmed with the recovery of the eggs from the stool through Acid-Ether Concentration (AECT) or Kato-Katz technique. Eggs embedded in tissues can be seen from rectal biopsy material A serological test to detect antibodies called Circumoval Precipitin Test (COPT) is usually requested together with stool examination. · Schistosomiasis is found in the Luzon provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Sorsogon, Visayas provinces of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and in all provinces of Mindanao, except Misamis 