Onchocerciasis in Guatemala. II. Microfilariae in urine, blood, and sputum after diethylcarbamazine
Anderson, R.I.; Fazen, L.E.; Buck, A.A.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 24(1): 58-61
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 1089368 Document Number: 86144
Guatemalan volunteers with onchocerciasis were each given a dose of 50 mg diethylcarbamazine to see if this caused migration of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae into the urine, blood and sputum. In 5 of the 10 volunteers, the numbers of microfilariae in the urine increased considerably following the drug. In the same 5, relatively large numbers of microfilariae were observed in blood and sputum specimens. Response in the remaining 5 was negligible. Of 4 controls given a placebo, 2 had microfilariae in their concentrated blood specimens and 3 had microfilariae in the sputum, indicating that microfilariae, if searched for, may be found in parts of the patient not normally associated with the infection.