PREVALENCE OF LYMPHATIC NODULE IN A BANCROFTIAN ENDEMIC POPULATION

Prevalence and clinical manifestation of lymphatic nodule in natural c ourse of bancroftian filariasis was evaluated in a representative popu lation of 2837 of a defined endemic community of Orissa. Detailed clin ical and parasitological examination of study subjects revealed high d isease (35.6%) and mf rate (15.8%) and mean microfilarae density (GM: 15.3+/-5.1 per 60 mm3 of blood) in the community. Lymphatic filarial n odule was manifested in 216 (7.6%) subjects in different spectrum of f ilarial infection including endemic normals and asymptomatic mf carrie rs. Significant proportion of cases with acute filarial disease in the community manifested nodule. Significant proportion of cases with nod ule had microfilaraemia (33.3%) as compared to that of community. Howe ver highest frequency of nodule was observed amongst microfilaraemics with lowest density of microfilaraemia in the community (P<0.05.). Thi s possibly indicates microfilariae clearance from circulation as a con sequence of death of adult parasite. The above observations suggest th at lymphatic nodules may manifest as an early and/or the only clinical sign of bancroftian filariasis. This might have been mediated through either the attempt of the immunocompetent host to kill the adult para site in a similar fashion that is effected through DEC or by death of the mature parasite in its natural process of attrition.