Distribution of filarial elephantiasis and hydrocele in Matara district, Sri Lanka, as reported by local leaders, and an immunological survey in areas with relatively high clinical rates

Abstract To eliminate lymphatic filariasis by means of mass drug administration, it is essential to have reliable data on the disease distribution and prevalence in targeted areas. In Matara district, Sri Lanka, self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 2105 local leaders questioning the prese...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology international 2008-09, Vol.57 (3), p.390-395
Main Authors: Weerasooriya, Mirani V, Isogai, Yoshinori, Itoh, Makoto, Yahathugoda, T. Channa, Vidanapathirana, Kanchana K, Mudalige, Malka P.S, Kimura, Eisaku
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Animals
Antibody Specificity
Child
Elephantiasis, Filarial - epidemiology
Elephantiasis, Filarial - immunology
Elephantiasis, Filarial - parasitology
Female
Filariasis
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Geographic information system
Health Surveys
Humans
IgG4
Immunoglobulin G - urine
Infectious Disease
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Rapid assessment procedure
Sex Distribution
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wuchereria bancrofti
Wuchereria bancrofti - immunology
Wuchereria bancrofti - isolation & purification
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract To eliminate lymphatic filariasis by means of mass drug administration, it is essential to have reliable data on the disease distribution and prevalence in targeted areas. In Matara district, Sri Lanka, self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 2105 local leaders questioning the presence and the numbers of elephantiasis and hydrocele cases. The information provided by them revealed that elephantiasis was clearly aggregated in the southern part of the district along the coast, while hydrocele was distributed rather evenly in the whole district, including Deniyaya region where no endemic filariasis had been known. To confirm active transmission of filariasis in Deniyaya, Wuchereria bancrofti antigen and filaria-specific urinary IgG4 antibody were measured with 2436 subjects. The positive rates for antigen and antibody were 0.6% and 4.3%, respectively. The titer analysis of IgG4 according to age revealed that the youngest IgG4 positive was 3 years old, and that in 10 years old or less, there were 16 positives out of 607 children examined (2.6%). It was concluded that filarial transmission at a low level was going on in the region.
ISSN:1383-5769
1873-0329
DOI:10.1016/j.parint.2008.04.007