Live Adult Worms Detected by Ultrasonography in Human Bancroftian Filariasis

EPIFIL: The development of an age-structured model for describing the transmission dynamics and control of lymphatic filariasis

“…The second area of uncertainty arises because, despite recent advances in immunodiagnosis [31] and ultrasound scanning [32,33], it is still not possible to measure worm burdens in the field. This is important in terms of the recrudescence of infection following chemotherapy.…”

Circulating filarial antigen in the hydrocele fluid from individuals living in a bancroftian filariasis area - Recife, Brazil: detected by the monoclonal antibody Og4C3-assay

“…Parasitological classification -After informed consent from all individuals (and from parents of minors), the microfilaremia and adult worm carriers were diagnosed by filtration (FN) (Nucleopore, Pleasanton, CA) and Ultrasound (Amaral et al 1994), respectively. Briefly, 1 ml of venous blood was collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Dennis & Kaen 1971) at night between 11:00 PM and 01:00 AM, from each patient, was filtered through a 13-mm polycarbonate membrane with a 3 µm pore size, was stained with Carrazzi haematoxylin and examined under microscope for MF (final resolution of the 160 X).…”

“…Ultrasound was first introduced as a new parasitological method for the identification of live adult worms of W. bancrofti, in Recife, Brazil (Amaral et al 1994). Two years later, Norões et al (1996) used this method to demonstrate the abnormalities in the lymphatic vessels in men with hydrocele living in endemic areas.…”

“…However, the contribution of W. bancrofti in the pathogenic mechanism is not well understood (Ottesen 1992 For several decades the only traditional way to diagnose the filariasis infection caused by W. bancrofti was by examining blood collected during the night as well as in other fluids such as hydrocele fluid and urine for the presence of microfilariae (MF) (WHO 1984, Manson-Bahr & Bell 1987, Rocha 2000. The detection of circulating filarial antigens (CFA) (Weil et al 1987, More & Copeman 1990) and non-invasive imaging techniques (Amaral et al 1994) created new alternative method in the diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis.…”

Filaria associated clinical manifestations in children in an endemic area and morbidity control by immunomonitoring and optimal DEC therapy: Sevagram experience

“…al. (22,23) had elegantly studied the characteristic movements of adult filarial worms known as filaria dance sign (FDS) by ultra sonographic study in scrotum and ditated lymphatics in subclinical hydroceles, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (24) and more recently in scrotal and breast areas in children (25). Ultra sound findings often changed after therapy with DEC, with disappearance of dancing worms (26).…”