Onchocerciasis: invasion of deep organs by Onchocerca volvulus

Autopsies of two patients with onchocerciasis in the Republic of Zaïre are reported. In one patient elephantiasis who died following diethylcarbamazine therapy there were large numbers of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in the kidney, liver, pancreas, and lung. In the second patient, who also had leprosy and hyperinfection strongyloidiasis, we found an encapsulated adult O. volvulus in the wall of the thoracic aorta.