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Abstract

A German traveller developed leg oedema with adenolymphangitis after a 3-week trip to Sri Lanka. Laboratory tests showed slight eosinophilia, positive filarial serology and motile microfilariae in day and night-time blood samples. PCR revealed 99% homology for . Lymphatic filariasis has been eliminated in Sri Lanka, but zoonotic has re-emerged. Physicians need to be alert and consider filariasis as potential differential diagnosis. Surveillance and vector control efforts should be sustained to prevent resurgence in Sri Lanka.

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2025-10-30
2025-11-12
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.43.2500793
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Acute Brugian filariasis in a German tourist after short-term travel to Sri Lanka, 2025
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=G%C3%BCnther+Slesak&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Slesak Günther</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Birgit+Muntau&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Muntau Birgit</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Dennis+Tappe&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Tappe Dennis</a></span>. Acute Brugian filariasis in a German tourist after short-term travel to Sri Lanka, 2025. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2025;30(43):pii=2500793. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.43.2500793" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.43.2500793</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 18 Oct 2025;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 30 Oct 2025 </span> </p>
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