Surveillance for transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Colombo and Gampaha districts of Sri Lanka following mass drug administration

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Dec;110(10):620-622. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trw067. Epub 2016 Nov 5.

Abstract

Background: Sri Lanka was recently declared by WHO to have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, after conclusion of annual mass drug administration. Our aim was to assess the lymphatic filariasis situation, following mass drug administration.

Methods: Surveillance was done in two districts of the Western Province in two consecutive phases (2009-2010 and 2013-2015), by examining 2461 thick night blood smears and performing 250 dipstick tests on children for antibodies to Brugia malayi.

Results and conclusions: Decline in bancroftian microfilaraemia (microfilaria rate 0.32% to zero) supports elimination, but re-emergence of brugian filariasisis (antibody rate, 1.6%; one microfilaria positive) is a cause for concern.

Keywords: Brugia malayi; Elimination; Lymphatic filariasis; Post mass drug administration surveillance; Sri Lanka; Wuchereria bancrofti.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Albendazole / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / drug therapy*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / epidemiology
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / prevention & control
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / transmission*
  • Endemic Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Cycle Stages / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mass Drug Administration*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Preventive Health Services*
  • Sri Lanka / epidemiology
  • Wuchereria bancrofti / drug effects

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Albendazole