CASE REPORT: Loa Loa microfilariae aspirated during oocyte retrieval

Loa loa is a filarial parasite which is mainly confined to West and Central Africa. Although considered as mildly pathogenic for people living in endemic areas, its appearance in other places might be a cause for concern. We report here the unusual finding of Loa loa microfilariae in the follicular aspirate of a 35-year-old black women during oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization. Most likely these microfilariae were aspirated, along with follicular fluid, from the small blood vessels around the ovarian follicles, which are frequently lacerated during ovarian puncture. Despite the spectacular microscopic view of vigorous moving worms trapped on the cumulus cells, the presence of Loa loa microfilariae does not seem to prevent fertilization and cleavage completely.