title: Combination of techniques for concentration and identification of microfilariae from peripheral blood.
abstract: Human blood containing a known number of Dirofilaria immitis or Brugia malayi microfilariae was incubated with Giemsa-stain or methylene blue solution and then subjected to density gradient centrifugation in Percoll-solution at a density of 1.090 g/ml. This resulted in complete separation of microfilariae from cellular components. Subsequently the microfilaria-containing layer was altered through a polycarbonate membrane. The stained parasites are then easily recognized and identified on the completely transparent membrane. The average recovery was 80%. This technique proved useful as a preparatory method and as a diagnostic tool for the detection of microfilariae in patients with low microfilaraemia.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D002009:Brugia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004285:Dogs; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification*