F. Amaral et al., LIVE ADULT WORMS DETECTED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN HUMAN BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 50(6), 1994, pp. 753-757
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Ultrasonographic examination of the scrotal area was performed in 14 a
symptomatic individuals with bancroftian filariasis and microfilaremia
. While in seven subjects (50%) the ultrasonographic findings were nor
mal, lymphatic dilation and tortuosity were observed in the other seve
n. In these vessels, structures with peculiar aleatory movements (fila
ria dance sign) were detected. A segment of the lymphatic tract contai
ning these mobile intraluminal structures that was resected surgically
from the left spermatic cord of one individual confirmed that these s
tructures were living Wuchereria bancrofti adult worms (two females an
d one male). Our study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility
of using a low-cost, widely available, noninvasive technique (ultraso
nography) to detect and monitor living adult worms and lymphatic dilat
ion in patients with bancroftian filariasis.