Onchocerca volvulus – Microfilariae in skin-snip (fresh examination)

France, Sarfati Claudine

Blood-free biopsy specimen is weighted then incubated in saline in a flat-bottom microtiter plate, or in a watch glass. Emergent microfilariae are counted after a 2h to 4 incubation, and the parasite load per mg may be assessed.