LIVE ADULT WORMS DETECTED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN HUMAN BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS

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.