title: Ultrasonographic detection of living adult Wuchereria bancrofti using a 3.5-MHz transducer.
abstract: Adult Wuchereria bancrofti can be readily detected by ultrasound in the lymphatic vessels of the spermatic cord with a 7.5-MHz transducer, but most ultrasound machines in developing countries are equipped with 3.5-MHz transducers. To assess the potential for ultrasound as a tool for diagnosis and epidemiologic assessment in lymphatic filariasis, we compared the performance of 3.5-MHz and 7.5-MHz transducers in 61 men in Recife, Brazil. All men had three ultrasound examinations using a 3.5 MHz transducer and an examination with a 7.5-MHz probe. Using the 7.5-MHz transducer, adult W. bancrofti were detected in 41 men; 81 adult worm nests were detected. Sixty-four (79%) nests were detected with the 3.5-MHz probe, each on all three examinations. The 3.5-MHz probe correctly identified 35 (85.4%) of 41 men as infected; sensitivity increased with lymphatic vessel diameter. Ultrasonographic examination with a 3.5-MHz transducer is a sensitive method for detection of adult W. bancrofti in men and merits consideration as a tool for rapid epidemiologic assessment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhaes-FIOCRUZ, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dreyer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noroes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Addiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003906:Developing Countries; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008200:Lymphangiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000302:isolation & purification*