Observations on agglutination and the thigmotaxis of microfilariae in bancroftian filariasis

Abstract
1. (1) Phenomena interpreted as agglutination and thigmotaxis of microfilariae were observed in vitro in heparinated venous blood from a number of W. bancrofti carriers, recent immigrants from Cochin, India. 2. (2) Distinct patterns of “Medusa head” and “sunflower” formations of the agglutinated masses of microfilariae were noted. A very marked diminution of microfilariae from the blood after clumping has taken place, was clearly evidenced in 11 out of 12 infected blood samples examined. 3. (3) The strict dependence of the agglutination phenomenon on the amount of anticoagulant (heparin) in the blood was clearly established. 4. (4) Failure of fibrinogen clots and thrombocyte suspensions to induce by themselves microfilariae agglutination was noted in experiments in vitro . 5. (5) A partial release of microfilariae of W. bancrofti into the peripheral blood, during the day, as a result of intravenous heparin injection, has been achieved in three out of four cases. 6. (6) The relation of the microfilariae agglutinating phenomenon to filarial periodicity is discussed in the light of the experimental findings.
Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: