Hira P R, Lindberg L G, Ryd W, Behbehani K
Department of Microbiology, Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine, Safat.
Acta Cytol. 1988 Mar-Apr;32(2):267-9.
Parasitic infections are common in the developing countries, but the cytologic diagnosis of such infections is infrequent or rare. This paper presents four cases of filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti diagnosed by cytologic examination and discusses some unusual observations. The finding of microfilariae in pleural fluid in the absence of the classic symptoms and signs of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is highlighted. In two patients, nocturnal microfilaremia could not be demonstrated despite Nuclepore filtration, thus suggesting the possible merits of cytology in the primary diagnosis of a filarial infection. Even the diethylcarbamazine provocative test failed to elicit a peripheral microfilaremia in one patient, further emphasizing the importance of cytology as a diagnostic method in amicrofilaremic infections. Attention is drawn to the need for a high index of suspicion on the part of the cytologist in the identification of parasitic organisms in material from high-risk groups to achieve an early diagnosis of such infections and the prompt institution of appropriate chemotherapy. This may obviate the more serious pathologic changes of advanced disease, especially the disfigurement of chronic and late filariasis.
寄生虫感染在发展中国家很常见，但此类感染的细胞学诊断并不常见或罕见。本文介绍了4例经细胞学检查诊断为班氏吴策线虫引起的丝虫病病例，并讨论了一些不寻常的观察结果。强调了在没有热带肺嗜酸性粒细胞增多症的典型症状和体征的情况下，在胸腔积液中发现微丝蚴。在两名患者中，尽管进行了核孔过滤，但夜间微丝蚴血症仍未得到证实，这表明细胞学在丝虫感染的初步诊断中可能具有的优势。甚至在一名患者中，乙胺嗪激发试验也未能诱发外周血微丝蚴血症，这进一步强调了细胞学作为无微丝蚴血症感染诊断方法的重要性。提请细胞学家高度怀疑，以便在高危人群的材料中识别寄生虫，从而早期诊断此类感染并及时进行适当的化疗。这可能避免晚期疾病更严重的病理变化，尤其是慢性和晚期丝虫病的毁容。
