Microfilariae in Bone Marrow Aspirates: Report of a Case
1294-1295
Correspondence
Dr. Umashankar T
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology,
Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore - 575018, India.
Phone: 9880568839
E-mail: tumashankar@hotmail.com
Lymphatic filariasis is a common public health problem in the endemic areas. Wuchereria bancrofti is the most common parasite which causes lymphatic filariasis in India. The microfilariae are demonstrated in the peripheral blood, body fluids, fine needle aspirates and in bronchial brushings. Microfilariae are an uncommon finding in the bone marrow and their presence may be an incidental finding in the absence of the clinical features of lymphatic filariasis. The peripheral blood may or may not reveal the microfilariae and eosinophilia is absent in a majority of the cases. All the bone marrow aspirates must be screened for microfilariae in the endemic areas, to identify the asymptomatic carriers. We are reporting here a case of a 17-year old female who had pancytopaenia, a megaloblastic marrow and W. bancrofti microfilariae in the bone marrow.