Control measures against Bancroftian filariasis in coastal villages in Tanzania

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Abstract
Control measures against Bancroftian filariasis were implemented in four coastal villages in Tanzania. In two villages the mass administration of diethylcarbamazine in spaced doses over six months (total dose 54 to 72 mg kg−1 per person), reduced the infective bites per person per year from 189 to 13 and 41 to nil, respectively, despite a persistent microfilaraemia in the villagers of 3·8%. In a third village, larviciding with chlorpyrifos against Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus in pit latrines reduced the infective bites from 187 to 12. The corresponding reduction was from 24 to nine in a fourth village, where the control procedures integrated simple environmental measures with the use of larvicides (chlorpyrifos in pit-latrines and temephos to control Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae in temporary pools). Because of the wide variation in transmission patterns within the same geographical area and even in the same locality in that area at different times a flexible approach to filariasis control is necessary. It is concluded that a combination of larviciding, simple environmental procedures and chemotherapy can greatly reduce filariasis transmission in any endemic area of Tanzania.

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