Studies on filariasis in the Philippines I. results of a survey in the province of Sorsogon and in the New Bilibid Prison at Muntinlupa, Rizal

ABSTRACT

A survey for filariasis (wuchereriasis) was made among the inmates of the New Bilibid Prison at Muntinlupa, Rizal, and on two population groups in the province of Sorsogon, Luzon. The results of the examination of prisoners, who came from 45 different provinces, agree with previous observations that filariasis is unevenly distributed in the Philippines. A high incidence of infection was found in Sorsogon and a number of cases of hydrocele, chylocele, lymph scrotum and elephantiasis of the genital organs and lower extremeties was encountered. Clinical filariasis appears to be also common in other parts of Southeastern Luzon and should receive attention as an important medical problem. Only the microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti was encountered in the blood of 79 positive cases from different parts of the Archipelago and it exhibited nocturnal periodicity. (Summary and Conclusion)