Failure of diethylcarbamazine as a provocative test in subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti filariasis

The effect of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) on levels of microfilaraemia in 70 patients with subperiodic, Pacific-variant Wuchereria bancrofti infection was studied one hour after oral administration of 5 mg/kg of drug. In contrast to the immediate DEC-induced increase in microfilaraemia which had been previously described in patients with nocturnally periodic filariasis, diethylcarbamazine failed to elicit such a response in patients with subperiodic bancrofti infection. Indeed, one hour after oral DEC the number of circulating microfilariae was reduced to about 8% of pre-treatment values.

[Effects of a unique dose of mebendazole on microfilaremia in 50 carriers of microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti, pacifica variety]

Treatment by Mebendazol were given to 50 patients divided in 3 groups, the first on having s single dose of 200 mg., the second one a single dose of 300 mg. and the last one a single dose of 400 mg. There was practically no unpleasant side effect. We noticed a delayed but notable effect on microfilaremia sensibly lower than diethylcarbamazine action in similar conditions. It would be interesting to try heavier doses or iterative doses.