RESUMO
Recent investigations of infections with Onchocerca volvulus in Guatemala presented the opportunity to study some aspects of complement fixation (CF) antibody titers. An extract of adult O. volvulus obtained from nodules excised from patients was used as antigen. Serum was procured from individuals whose intensity of infection was determined by skin snip counts of microfilariae. In general there was an inverse relationship between intensity of infection and CF titers. This correlation was significant in men 40 years and older. The CF titer of women was greater than that of men with the same intensity of infection.
Assuntos
Testes de Fixação de Complemento , Oncocercose/diagnóstico , Anticorpos/análise , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores SexuaisRESUMO
Guatermalan volunteers with onchocerciasis were given a dose of diethylcarbamazine to learn if this caused migration of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus into urine, blood, and sputum. In 5 of the 10 volunteers, the num0ers of microfilariae in the urine increased considerably following the drug. In the same 5, relatively large numbers of microfilariae were observed in the blood and sputum specimens. Response in the remaining 5 was negligible. Four controls given a placebo did not respond. Interestingly, however, 2 control subjects had onchocercal microfilariae in their concentrated blood specimens and 3 control subjects had microfilariae in the sputum. Therefore, we believe that microfilariae, if searched for, may be found in other parts of the patient not normally associated with the infection.
Assuntos
Sangue/parasitologia , Dietilcarbamazina/farmacologia , Onchocerca/efeitos dos fármacos , Oncocercose , Escarro/parasitologia , Urina/parasitologia , Administração Oral , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto , Dietilcarbamazina/administração & dosagem , Guatemala , Humanos , Masculino , Microfilárias/efeitos dos fármacos , Oncocercose/metabolismo , PlacebosRESUMO
Microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus were detected in the urine of 65 residents of three coffee plantations near Yepocapa, Guatemala. In this area the prevalence of microfilaruria is estimated to be between 17% and 30% of the population 10 years of age and older. Almost all of the people examined had clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis and 80% of them had microfilariae in skin snips. The frequency of microfilaruria is associated with the number of microfilariae in the skin. Within each age group those who had lived longer on the coffee plantations were more likely to have microfilariae in a skin snip and more likely to have microfilariae in their urine. The presence of subcutaneous nodules or history of prior nodulectomy did not reduce the incidence of microfilaruria nor did the presence of subcutaneous nodules increase the incidence of microfilariae in the urine.
Assuntos
Oncocercose/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Biópsia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Manifestações Oculares , Feminino , Guatemala , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Microfilárias , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Onchocerca/isolamento & purificação , Oncocercose/urina , Risco , Fatores Sexuais , Pele/parasitologia , Manifestações Cutâneas , Urina/parasitologiaRESUMO
Periodicity of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in the skin was not believed to exist until investigators in Africa recently demonstrated diurnal periodicity. Interestingly, this maximal density of microfilariae in the skin has been shown to coincide with the peak biting time of the Simulium vector. The current study was performed as part of other studies in Guatemala. Maximal density of microfilariae in the skin was at 1000 hours or shortly therafter. This peak is earlier than reported in Africa. The most active feeding period of Simulium ochraceum, believed to be the principal vector in Guatemala, had been previously shown to be from 0800 to 1000 hours. The current report lends support to other findings indicating that Onchocerca volvulus microlilariae have a diurnal periodicity. In addition, the occurrence of peak vector biting time at the same time as maximal numbers of microfilariae in the skin strengthens a hypothesis that these synchronous cycles have a biological significance.