Filarial infection is endemic in the tropics and is a public health problem in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and the Pacific Islands. Co-infection with filarial nematodes, if unrecognized, can result in untoward therapeutic consequences. We report a case of co-infection of Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus that was diagnosed by direct blood smear (W. bancrofti) and serology (O. volvulus) in a native of Sierra Leone. We comment briefly on the therapeutic implications of the co-infection. © 2005 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

Onchocerciasis Mazzotti's reaction Wuchereriasis Co-infection Filariasis

filariasis Antibodies, Helminth refugee lymphadenitis clinical feature Onchocerciasis human Onchocerca volvulus Refugees anthelmintic agent priority journal blood smear ivermectin Animals Sierra Leone Wuchereria diethylcarbamazapine laboratory test United States Humans male lymphangitis Albendazole unclassified drug enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Review Nematoda superinfection adult serology endemic disease Wuchereria bancrofti