ABSTRACT
This study describes the clinical, parasitological and laboratory findings of four patients who lived in the district of Alto Nanay, Maynas, Loreto, Peru and were infected with Mansonella ozzardi microfilariae. Clinical examinations by ophthalmologists, cardiologists and nephrologists were performed. In case 1, the presence of 2 subcutaneous lumps was the most important finding, one at dorsal level and the other in the lower third of the left leg; in case 2, there was a sensation of tingling or coldness in the legs; in case 3, an associated chronic hepatitis B infection was found, and in case 4, a large lump was detected in the left lumbar region. All 4 patients were infected with Mansonella ozzardi and had eosinophilia, 3 of them in percentages of 20%. The lump found in case 4 was due to a herniation of bowel content. Further clinical studies and an evaluation of the actual pathogenic effect of microfilariae are to be performed. A study of the genetic diversity of filariae in the Peruvian Amazon would also be important.
Subject(s)
Mansonella , Mansonelliasis/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PeruABSTRACT
El presente estudio describe los hallazgos clínicos, parasitológicos y de laboratorio de cuatro pacientes residentes en el distrito de Alto Nanay, Maynas, Loreto, Perú; infectados con microfilarias de Mansonella ozzardi. La evaluación clínica incluyó las especialidades de oftalmología, cardiología y nefrología. En el caso 1, destaca la presencia de dos tumoraciones subcutáneas, una a nivel dorsal y la otra en el tercio inferior de la pierna izquierda; en el caso 2, la sensación de hormigueo o frío en las piernas; en el caso 3 se encontró asociada una infección crónica por hepatitis B y en el caso 4 una tumoración de gran tamaño en región lumbar izquierda. En los cuatro pacientes se encontró Mansonella ozzardi y eosinofilia, tres presentaron valores mayores a 20%. La tumoración en el caso 4 correspondió a una hernia de contenido intestinal. Es necesario ejecutar más estudios clínicos y evaluar su verdadero efecto patógeno, es también pertinente estudiar la diversidad genética de filarias de la Amazonia peruana.
This study describes the clinical, parasitological and laboratory findings of four patients who lived in the district of Alto Nanay, Maynas, Loreto, Peru and were infected with Mansonella ozzardi microfilariae. Clinical examinations by ophthalmologists, cardiologists and nephrologists were performed. In case 1, the presence of 2 subcutaneous lumps was the most important finding, one at dorsal level and the other in the lower third of the left leg; in case 2, there was a sensation of tingling or coldness in the legs; in case 3, an associated chronic hepatitis B infection was found, and in case 4, a large lump was detected in the left lumbar region. All 4 patients were infected with Mansonella ozzardi and had eosinophilia, 3 of them in percentages of 20%. The lump found in case 4 was due to a herniation of bowel content. Further clinical studies and an evaluation of the actual pathogenic effect of microfilariae are to be performed. A study of the genetic diversity of filariae in the Peruvian Amazon would also be important.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mansonella , Mansonelliasis/diagnosis , PeruABSTRACT
La ciudad de Iquitos, lugar donde ejerzo la Oftalmología, se encuentra en el departamento de Loreto, a 1,250 km. al nor-este de la ciudad de Lima. Está circundada por el río Amazonas y sus afluentes; pudiendo llegar a ella sólo por vía aérea o fluvial. En este reporte deseamos presentar nuestro estudio sobre la incidencia de las afecciones oculares en la selva peruana, donde por sus características geográficas y climatológicas, el pterigion y las infecciones adquieren gran magnitud