Filariasis is a common health problem in tropical and subtropical regions including India. It commonly presents with lymphatic involvement in form of nonpitting pedal edema, chylous ascites, chyluria, hydrocele and lymphocele. Detection of microfilaria in ascitic fluid is an extremely uncommon finding. We present a case of non chylous ascites where microfilaria were detected in the ascitic fluid.

Filarial infection is common in various Asian and African countries. It presents with various manifestations like ascites, pleural effusion and pedal edema; it may even be asymptomatic. We present an interesting and rare case of filariasis in ascitic fluid in postpartum female.

A 26 years old female residing in Uttar Pradesh, India, who was 2 mo postpartum, presented with chief complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting since 1 mo and abdominal distention since 15 d. The pain was in periumbilical, non radiating, dull, mild and continuous. It was associated with non-bilious vomiting, 2-3 episodes per day. She also complained of abdominal distention from the last 15 d, which was generalized and gradually increasing with increasing abdominal pain. She had undergone a Caesarean section 2 mo ago. The pregnancy had been uneventful. Her general physical, cardiovascular and respiratory systems examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Shifting dullness was present on abdominal examination without tenderness or hepatosplenomegaly.

Laboratory examination revealed haemoglobin of 12.2 gm%, normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 82fl, total leukocyte count of 16500/cmm and platelet count of 253000/cmm. Creatinine was 1.2 mg%, AST (aspartate aminotransferase) 21 IU/L, ALT (alanine aminotransferase) 25 IU/L and Bilirubin 1.1 mg/dL. Her total serum protein was 6.4 g/dL, albumin 3.7 g/dL and INR (international normalised ratio) 1.1, serum cholesterol and TG (triglycerides) were normal. Serum amylase was 45 IU/L and serum LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) was 1241 IU/L. Stool examination was normal. Ascitic fluid analysis revealed straw coloured fluid, total leukocyte count of 876 cells/mm³ with 65% neutrophils, ascitic protein 3.7 g/dL, ascitic albumin of 2.7 g/dL and SAAG was 1. Ascitic fluid ADA (adenosine deaminase) was 14 U/L, amylase 46 IU/L, LDH 106 IU/L, glucose 40 mg/dL and TG was 55 mg/dL. Ultrasonography of abdomen was unremarkable except for moderate ascites. Portosplenic Doppler was also normal. CT abdomen was suggestive of moderate ascites, omental and mesenteric fat stranding with multiple non necrotic mesenteric lymph nodes and diffuse long segment concentric wall thickening involving small bowel loops, especially the jejunum. Upper GI endoscopy was normal. She was given IV antibiotics and IV fluids. She improved symptomatically but abdominal distention persisted. Ascitic fluid cytology showed numerous eosinophils, few neutrophils, mesothelial cells and few histiocytes. Cytology was negative for malignant cells. But cytological examination revealed presence of sheathed microfilariae consistent with Wuchereria Bancrofti (Figures 1 and 2). Subsequently patient’s peripheral smear examination showed presence of motile microfilaria which confirmed our diagnosis (Figure 3). She was given diethylcarbamazine 300 mg/d for 21 d along with albendazole 400 mg/d for 7 d. She responded well to treatment; abdominal pain and ascites disappeared in a few days. Peripheral blood smear repeated after two weeks was negative for microfilaria.

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Figure 1 Ascitic fluid-Smear shows Microfilaria. Background shows inflammatory cells (Pap stain 100 ×).

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Figure 2 Microfilaria with nuclei. Note that the tail portion is devoid of the nuclei (pap 400 ×).

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Figure 3 Microfilaria in peripheral smear. Sample collected at 2 am.

We report a case of non chylous filarial ascites positive for microfilaria in ascitic fluid which is a rare finding. To the best of our knowledge, there are only two published cases where microfilaria were detected in ascitic fluid[1,2].

Filariasis is still endemic in many parts of world including India and a predominant cause of health morbidity. It is quite prevalent in many states of India like Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bihar. Many infected patients remain asymptomatic.

The definitive host for filarial infection is man. The parasites have a predilection for lymphatics. The Culex mosquito is an intermediate vector. They ingest microfilariae from affected individuals and this larvae develop into active motile forms in 10-12 d for further transmission into a new host. In the definitive host, the larvae develop into adult worms in lymphatics and give rise up to 50000 worms/d.

The adult worm usually resides in lymphatics while microfilariae traverse in peripheral blood. Microfilaria are visible in specimens of tissue or fluids due to obstruction of lymphatics and vascular channels. Inflammatory conditions, major trauma, even stasis or tumours can precipitate obstruction. Due to this obstruction, there is lymphatic damage and extravasation of microfilariae. Based on the detection of microfilariae in blood samples and body fluids, we establish our diagnosis. On autopsy, adult filarial parasites can be demonstrated.

Moreover, pregnancy is associated with pelvic congestion due to effect of progesterone and other placental hormones. Hypothetically, caesarean section could be a cause of traumatic rupture of lymphatic vessel with subsequent spread of microfilariae into the peritoneal cavity[3].

Ascites and pleural effusion are uncommon findings. Commonly they are chylous in nature due to blockage of lymph from the occluded lymphatic channels. Such microfilarial ascites being non-chylous microfilarial ascites is extremely rare. Lymphangitis because of partial obstruction is a proposed mechanism for such exudative collection[4]. Ascitic fluid TG could also be low due to inadequate diet, but ascitic fluid TG content is low in our patient inspite of adequate food intake.

Many authors have reported microfilariae in breast lump as well as in lymph node aspirates[5,6]. Microfilariae have been detected in thyroid swelling and rarely in subcutaneous swellings[7,8]. Detection of microfilaria in body fluids like pleural effusion and ascites is rare and such ascites being non chylous is extremely rare.

Therefore clinical suspicion and careful cytological examination is extremely important to avoid misdiagnosis. Demonstration of parasite in cytology will be helpful not only in the right diagnosis but also in instituting specific treatment.