Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
https://iberoamjmed.com/article/doi/10.53986/ibjm.2024.0016
Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
Case Report

Role of buffy coat in detection of microfilaria in absence of eosinophilia: a case report

Papel de la capa leucocitaria en la detección de microfilarias en ausencia de eosinofilia: reporte de un caso

Sailuja Maharjan, Sumnima Mainali, Akriti Shrestha, Sabi Rana, Srinivas Chakravarthy

Downloads: 1
Views: 513

Abstract

Filariasis is a very important public health problem endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. It is a debilitating disease with significant socioeconomic burden. In 2016, lymphatic filariasis was successfully eliminated from the Maldives, which was certified by WHO. We report a case of filariasis detected by a rapid antigen test while undergoing a screening program conducted by Health Protection Agency, Maldives in December 2023. The patient was asymptomatic and showed no peripheral blood eosinophilia. Conventional blood smears were negative. Nevertheless, buffy coat smear served as a promising test in detection of parasite, thus confirming the re-emergence of the disease in the country. Therefore, our study highlight the significance of buffy coat smears in detection of hemoparasites. We also focus on the importance of surveillance system in order to sustain the disease elimination goal that was already achieved.

Keywords

Buffy coat; Eosinophilia; Filariasis; Microfilaria; Maldives

Resumen

La filariasis es un problema de salud pública muy importante, endémico en países tropicales y subtropicales. Es una enfermedad debilitante con una importante carga socioeconómica. En 2016, se eliminó con éxito la filariasis linfática en Maldivas, lo cual fue certificado por la OMS. Informamos un caso de filariasis detectada mediante una prueba rápida de antígenos mientras se sometía a un programa de detección realizado por la Agencia de Protección de la Salud de Maldivas en diciembre de 2023. El paciente estaba asintomático y no mostraba eosinofilia en sangre periférica. Los frotis de sangre convencionales fueron negativos. Sin embargo, el frotis leucocitario sirvió como prueba prometedora en la detección del parásito, confirmando así la reaparición de la enfermedad en el país. Por lo tanto, nuestro estudio resalta la importancia de los frotis de capa leucocitaria en la detección de hemoparásitos. También nos centramos en la importancia del sistema de vigilancia para mantener el objetivo de eliminación de la enfermedad que ya se logró.

Palabras clave

Capa leucocitaria; Eosinofilia; Filariasis; Microfilaria; Maldivas

References

1.Ananda Kesavan TM, Narayan A, Rose F. An uncommon presentation of filariasis: A case report. IP Int J Med Paediatr Oncol. 2023;9(1):48-50. doi: 10.18231/j.ijmpo.2023.009.
2.Musso D. Relevance of the eosinophil blood count in bancroftian filariasis as a screening tool for the treatment. Pathog Glob Health. 2013;107(2):96-102. doi: 10.1179/2047773213Y.0000000083.
3.Garg N, More S, Sharma M, Kotru M. Microfilaria: not always associated with eosinophilia. Trop Doct. 2019;49(3):210-2. doi: 10.1177/0049475519833264.
4.Sharma GM, Bhardwaj AR, Relwani NR, Dubey S. Lymphatic Filariasis Presenting as a Swelling over the Upper Arm: A Case Report. Malays Orthop J. 2018;12(1):63-5. doi: 10.5704/MOJ.1803.016.
5.Ahuja M, Pruthi SK, Gupta R, Khare P. Unusual presentation of filariasis as an abscess: A case report. J Cytol. 2016;33(1):46-8. doi: 10.4103/0970-9371.175520.
6.Specht S, Suma TK, Pedrique B, Hoerauf A. Elimination of lymphatic filariasis in South East Asia. BMJ. 2019;364:k5198. doi: 10.1136/bmj.k5198.
7.Samir H, Mohamed N, Saleem S, Aditama TY. Unburdening the poor: elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Maldives. In: Singh PK, editors. Elimination of infectious diseases from the South-East Asia Region. Singapore;Springer; 2021:43-51.
8.Won KY, Gass K, Biamonte M, Dagne DA, Ducker C, Hanna C, et al. Diagnostics to support elimination of lymphatic filariasis-Development of two target product profiles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(11):e0009968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009968.
9.Brahima D, Alain Didier A, Gonat Serge Pacôme D, Nguiessan Alphonse A, Abdoul K, Jean-Marie DM. A Rare Case of Ovarian Filariasis in Abidjan. Case Rep Pathol. 2016;2016:4075162. doi: 10.1155/2016/4075162.
10.Kandalam PT, Parampath AN, Farghaly HI, Salah SA, Kayakkool MK, Mathew JV, et al. An unusual presentation of filariasis in a nonendemic country. Qatar Med J. 2016;2015(2):17. doi: 10.5339/qmj.2015.17.
11.Sai Chandra H, Arun V, Niveda S, Shrutiraaj KA, Khajuria SP; Mohan NK, et al. An unusual presentation of filariasis as pyrexia of unknown origin: Case report. Amrita J Med 2022; 18:100‑1. doi: 10.4103/AMJM.AMJM_27_22.
12.Albhaisi S, Bashir N, Khan T. INCIDENTAL FINDING OF MICROFILARIAE IN BONE MARROW ASPIRATE OF A PATIENT WITH TUBERCULOSIS: A CASE REPORT. Int J Adv Res. 2017;5(6):599-602. doi: 10.21474/IJAR01/4455.
13.Ahmed NH, Samantaray JC. Quantitative buffy coat analysis-an effective tool for diagnosing blood parasites. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(4):DH01. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/7559.4258.
14.Pinto MJ, Rodrigues SR, Desouza R, Verenkar MP. Usefulness of quantitative buffy coat blood parasite detection system in diagnosis of malaria. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2001;19(4):219-21.
15.Duangdee C, Tangpukdee N, Krudsood S, Wilairatana P. Use of buffy coat thick films in detecting malaria parasites in patients with negative conventional thick films. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(4):301-3. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60027-6.
16.Liempi D, Zulantay I, Varela NM, Canals M, Guevara A, Poulsen N, et al. Parasite Burden of Trypanosoma cruzi in Whole Blood and Buffy Coat Determined by Real-Time PCR in Individuals with Chronic Chagas Disease. Microorganisms. 2024;12(2):249. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12020249.
17.Chagas CRF, Binkienė R, Ilgūnas M, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G. The buffy coat method: a tool for detection of blood parasites without staining procedures. Parasit Vectors. 2020;13(1):104. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-3984-8.


Submitted date:
02/17/2024

Reviewed date:
05/22/2024

Accepted date:
06/05/2024

Publication date:
06/17/2024

66701321a9539566b02ed083 iberoamericanjm Articles
Links & Downloads

Iberoam J Med

Share this page
Page Sections