Publication

Abstract : A 49-year-old man visited our hospital to confirm filarial infection. He had a history of subconjunctival worm extraction in Dubai, where the peripheral blood smear was positive for microfilaria. He was then referred for treatment in his hometown (Kerala, India). He had no systemic or visual symptoms. He had worked in Nigeria for three years before moving to Dubai. Histopathological sections and peripheral blood smears were analyzed. Longitudinal sections of the extracted adult worm showed a rounded anterior end with no lips (Figure 1A) and the uterus filled with embryonic microfilariae (Figure 1B). Blood smears revealed sheathed microfilariae, with nuclei extending to the pointed tail tip (Figure 1C, 1D). The adult worm was identified as a female Loa loa worm. He received systemic therapy with corticosteroids and diethylcarbamazine.