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The distribution of microfilariae in the skin of Guatemalan onchocerciasis patients: an evaluation of diagnostic potentials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Masato Kawabata ,
Yoshihisa Hashiguchi ,
Guillermo Zea F ,
Hiroto Yamada ,
Yoshiki Aoki ,
Isao Tada ,
M. Recinos C. Manuel  and
Otto Flores C
Masato Kawabata
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Yoshihisa Hashiguchi
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Guillermo Zea F
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Hiroto Yamada
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Yoshiki Aoki
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Isao Tada
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
M. Recinos C. Manuel
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
Otto Flores C
Affiliation:
National Department for Malaria Eradication, Ministry of Public Health, Guatemala
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Abstract

Quantitative examinations for the distribution and density of microfilariae were carried out on male Guatemalan onchocerciasis patients by taking 6 or 13 skin biopsies each from 74 subjects. We found that microfilariae were distributed most frequently on the iliac crest and secondarily in the scapular region; higher detection rates and greater microfilarial densities were seen in these areas. From these results we recommend the taking of biopsies from both of these anatomical regions so as to avoid false negative cases. The infected patients were classified into 3 groups (light, moderate and heavy infections) on the basis of the numbers of negative skin snips out of the 13 biopsies taken. In heavy infections, a higher densities of microfilariae were detected in the head and neck regions, as compared with the densities in the lower extremities (calf). The high concentration of microfilariae in these regions is of importance in relation to the development of eye lesions and/or transmission. Of patients who had microfilariae in the anterior segment of the eye some had negative skin biopsies from the outer canthus, retroauricular region and neck.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 54 , Issue 3 , September 1980 , pp. 183 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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References

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