Circulating filarial antigen in serum and hydrocele fluid from individuals living in an endemic area for bancroftian filariasis.

This study examined circulating filarial antigen by monoclonal antibody Og4C3-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from 114 men with hydrocele, living in an endemic area. Nocturnal blood and hydrocele fluid were collected and examined for microfilaria. ELISA was performed on serum and hydrocele fluid for detection of antigen. Amongst 114 cases, 5(4.4%) showed microfilaria in blood but none in fluid. ELISA was positive in 13(11.40%) serum and 5 (4.4%) fluid samples. All five fluid antigen positive cases were positive for antibodies and showed microfilaria in blood. These findings emphasize the use of circulating filarial antigen detection and alternative usage of hydrocele fluid for diagnosis of filariasis.

Tropical vaginal hydroceles: are they all filarial in origin?

Hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis testis has been conventionally used as an absolute indicator of filarial disease in most clinical surveys. The prevalence of filarial etiology in 100 consecutive hydroceles was studied using clinical, parasitological, histopathological and immunological parameters. Filarial etiology could be proved in 57% of hydrocele cases using major criteria: presence of microfilaria in hydrocele fluid, presence of chyle in hydrocele fluid, demonstration of adult worm in tunica, ratio of fluid antibody titer to serum antibody titer more than 2 and presence of filarial antigen in hydrocele fluid. The results of other tests in these 57 cases were used to define the minor criteria. In the other 43 cases, based on the minor criteria, 12 hydroceles could be classified as likely to be due to filariasis and the rest were probably non-filarial. Thus only 69% of hydroceles were definitely or probably filarial.

The association of clinical filariasis and Wuchereria bancrofti infections in Jakarta.

In a study carried out in Jakarta, Indonesia between 1969--1977, patients with clinical manifestations of filariasis were examined for microfilaremia. Finger blood (3 X 20 microliter) were examined by conventional methods, venous blood by membrane filtration, urine and hydrocele fluid by concentration methods. A total of 1,422 patients were examined and 182 (12.8%) were positive by blood smear; however, examination by membrane filtration and concentration of urine and hydrocele fluid did not appreciably increase the association between clinical manifestations and Wuchereria bancrofti infection. Approximately 16% of the patients without patent infection were indirectly associated with filariasis, since they co-habitated with persons with microfilaremia. Results of these studies showed that more than 60% of the patients were without patent infection. Factors that may be responsible for these findings are briefly discussed.