Pathology of experimental infection with Brugia malayi in ferrets: comparison with occult filariasis in man.

Ferrets experimentally infected with Brugia malayi (subperiodic strain) developed eosinophilia at patency and usually became amicrofilaremic. Ferrets necropsied within 3 months after becoming amicrofilaremic had granulomas and focal reactions to degenerating microfilariae in their livers, lungs and lymph nodes essentially identical to those of tropical eosinophilia. Four of 7 ferrets that received multiple inoculations of larvae, developed edema of the inoculated paw and leg after becoming amicrofilaremic and 6 of these 7 ferrets had granulomatous lymphangitis and lymphadenitis of inoculated limbs but not the lesions of lung and liver characteristic of occult infection.