SILICA AND SILICATES IN FEMORAL LYMPH-NODES OF BAREFOOTED PEOPLE IN ETHIOPIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ELEPHANTIASIS OF THE LOWER LEGS

Electron microscopy of femoral lymph nodes of barefooted Ethiopians show the presence of numerous particles of colloid-size and electron-density in the lysosomes of the macrophages in the gland. On diffraction analysis, the particles are found to be amorphous. Elemental microanalysis of the X-ray spectrum indicate the predominance of Si, Al and Fe. In elephantiasics some particles contain silicon alone, presumably silica. The distribution of the Al/Si ratios of the particles in subjects with elephantiasis of the lower legs show a difference from that of non-elephantiasics which is statistically “highly significant” at p < 0·001.The importance of this as a possible aetiological factor in the disease is discussed. The hypothesis that the disease is a silicosis of the peripheral lymphatics of the lower limbs is supported by the present study. © 1979 Oxford University Press.