Adult Loa loa Filarial Worm in the Anterior Chamber of the Eye: A First Report from Savanna Belt of Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Filarial worms are tissue-dwelling nematodes that can infest man. The adult filarial parasites, depending on the species, may live in lymphatics, blood vessels, serous membranes, skin, or connective tissues [1]. The adult Loa loa worm lives commonly in the connective tissues, eyelids, and the subconjunctiva, where it can be seen moving across the conjunctival sac [2]. Instances of intraocular occurrence of the adult filarial worms are rare, and the few cases which were reported earlier were in the presence of Wuchereria bancrofti in either the vitreous or anterior chamber [3,4]. Ocular loiasis caused by adult L. loa in the subconjunctival space and anterior chamber have been reported in the rainforest areas of Nigeria [5,6,7]. To our knowledge, this is the first report of adult L. loa worm in the anterior chamber from the savannah belt of northern Nigeria.