title: Detection of anti-filarial antibody among hydrocele patients living in an endemic area for filariasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The knowledge of the current prevalence of lymphatic filariasis and its transmission will be helpful in its elimination. Thus, the present study is aimed to determine its prevalence among hydrocele patients which is a common presentation in chronically infected cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients suffering from hydrocele admitted to the surgical ward were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the patients during the day hours for the detection of anti-filarial antibody and during night hours to detect the presence of microfilaria by smear examination. Blood samples were also collected from the family member attending the ward along with the patients to determine the presence of anti-filarial antibodies. Serum IgE level and eosinophil count were also determined in the patients showing a positive result for the anti-filarial antibody test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 100 hydrocele patients, 21% patients showed anti-filarial antibody card test positive with maximum patients belonging to age group of 20-40 years. Microfilaria was detected in 5% of the hydrocele patients, whereas none of the family members showed positive anti-filarial antibody test. Serum IgE level and eosinophil count were more than 1000 ng/ml and 500/mm3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study has found a high prevalence of filariasis among hydrocele patients. It is suggested that more studies are needed to know the real time prevalence of the cases showing manifestations of the filariasis in the acute stage which will help the eradication program to formulate new strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Loveleena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lakhmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Chandrim
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Ravinder Pal
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Anti-filarial antibody; endemic filariasis; hydrocele; lymphatic filariasis