Parasites in the Portal Vein

The entozoön which by its presence in the blood causes the disease chyluria also inhabits the portal vein. In some parts of the world—Brazil more especially—this disease is exceedingly common. It has occurred also in two or three instances in England, and the writer has had a case within the past year (1884) in Philadelphia. The parasites in this case were found in immense numbers in the urine.

The blood of the portal vein sometimes is actually filled, and the liver substance itself is penetrated, by them, but nothing is known of the alterations they induce in these organs. When cases of hæmaturia or chylous urine due to the Filaria sanguinis hominis occur, the changes are not confined to the urinary organs, but often, doubtless, involve the liver. There are no signs in the present state of our knowledge by which the existence of these parasites in the portal vein and liver can be determined.