IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 17, Issue 11 Ver. 3 (November. 2018), PP 24-27 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1711032427 www.iosrjournals.org 24 | Page The role of haematological parameters in predicting filariasis with special emphasis on absolute eosinophil count: A single Institutional experience. Sangita Bohara 1 ,Neeraj Tripathi 2 , Rumpa Das 3 , Monilisa Jha 4 , Vivek Gupta 5 1,3,4,5 (Department of Pathology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki,Uttar Pradesh,India) 2 (Department of Medicine, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki,Uttar Pradesh,India) Corresponding Author: Sangita Bohara Abstract: Introduction: Filariasis is a major public health problem in tropical countries, including India. A majority of infected individuals in filarial endemic communities are asymptomatic. The absolute eosinophil count (AEC) is known to have a good predictive value in the management of filariasis. Aims and Objectives: We aim to study the various haematological parameters and ascertain the predictive value of AEC in the detection of filariasis. We have also studied the pattern of presentation of the parasite on blood smears with respect to periodicity and its localisation in the smear. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital between the period of 2 years from September 2015 to August 2017. A total of 88 smear positive filarial patients and a control group of 100 patients of fever who were smear negative on three occasions were included. Hemoglobin, Total leucocyte count, Differential leucocyte count, platelet counts and absolute eosinophil counts were obtained. The data was analysed by statistical tools. Results: All the smear positive cases were caused by the Wuchereria bancrofti. Majority of the parasites were detected in the night blood samples taken between 8pm to 11pm. The parasites were found to be on the tail end of a thin blood film. In the present study, AEC was not found to have significant association with filaria. Conclusion: Although AEC is a useful marker for inflammation in many allergic and parasitic conditions, it cannot be treated as the sole predictive marker for filariasis and all the routine blood smears irrespective of the eosinophil counts need to be inspected on low power objective (40X) for presence of microfilariae especially near the tail end of the smear. Key words: microfilaria, Wuchereria bancrofti, absolute eosinophil count --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 28-10-2018 Date of acceptance: 14-11-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Filariasis is a major public health problem in tropical countries, including India. The disease is endemic all over India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Gujarat. A majority of infected individuals in filarial endemic communities are asymptomatic. Adult worms live in the lymphatic vessels of the definitive host and microfilaria is released and circulates in the peripheral blood. [1] Typically eosinophils in peripheral blood are <500/mm 3 . Worldwide, multicellular helminth parasites are most commonly associated with significant eosinophilia. [2] We aim to study the various haematological parameters and ascertain the predictive value of absolute eosinophil count (AEC) in the detection of filariasis. We have also studied the pattern of presentation of the parasite on blood smears with respect to periodicity and its localisation in the smear. II. Material and methods A prospective cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital between the period of September 2015 to August 2017. A total of 88 smear positive filarial patients and a control group of 100 patients of fever who were smear negative on three occasions were included. Majority of the febrile patients in the control group were diagnosed with viral fever. The peripheral blood samples of each case were collected in EDTA vacutainers and analyzed by Mindray/BC-5150 hematological analyzer. Hemoglobin(Hb), Total leucocyte count(TLC), Differential leucocyte count(DLC), platelet counts and absolute eosinophil counts were obtained. Hb, TLC, platelet counts and AEC were obtained. Peripheral smears were prepared and stained by Leishman stain, which were examined by pathologists for detection of filarial parasite and species. The results were evaluated for the clinical features (whether symptoms of lymphangitis, lymphedema were present or not), localisation in the smear (head, body or tail) and periodicity (day or night samples). The samples collected from 8pm to 8am were all grouped into night blood samples and the rest were day samples. The AEC of >500/μl was