[Etiological study of low fertility in eastern Gaboon. III. Filarial endemicity (Loa loa, D. perstans). Prevalence of microfilariae in hydroceles (author's transl)].

During a survey to study the causes of hypofecundity in Gabon the very high incidence of cases of hydrocele was noted. The survey examined 1548 adults of both sexes and found that 47% of them has infestation of microfilaremia which was much higher in males (53%) than in females (38%). The infestation was more widespread in villages located near forests than in villages of the savanna. In the region of Ogooue-Lolo where the disease was more highly endemic and the percentage of cases of hydrocele was higher every vaginal flow was puncured and 68 fluids collected. Loa loa was detected in 10% of cases; D. perstands in 62% of cases and O. volvulus in 7% of cases. W. bancrofti was not found in any of the fluids examined.