Alteration of amicrofilaremia in Dipetalonema viteae infected hamsters with immunosuppressive drugs.

Dipetalonema viteae-infected hamsters with amicrofilaremic infections were subjected to immunosuppressive therapy. Methyl prednisolone acetate caused the most severe recrudescence of microfilariae while cyclophosphamide caused a low level, transient microfilaremia. Saline injected control hamsters remained amicrofilaremic. Neither drug influenced the number of adult worms recovered at necropsy in the treated hamsters compared with control hamsters.