Monofilament nylon filters for preventing dracunculiasis: Durability and copepod retention after long term field use in Pakistan.
Filtration of drinking water to remove the cyclopoid copepod intermediate hosts of guinea worm. Dracunculus medinensis, is one of the primary intervention strategies for preventing dracunculiasis. In early 1987, monofilament nylon filters with 200 microns pore size were distributed to households in selected guinea worm-infected villages in Pakistan. The filters proved popular with the villagers, although reports of "loss of filters" could diminish the community-wide effectiveness of this control measure. After 12 to 15 months of usage a sample of these filters was collected and examined for damage or impairment which would decrease their use or their capacity to retain potentially infective copepods. Although all naupliar stages and early copepodids (Stages CI-II) passed through these used filters, the larger copepodids including adults (Stages CIII-VI) were retained despite small tears in the fabric. This field trial showed that after 12 to 15 months of regular use, monofilament nylon filters of 200 microns pore size remained effective in removing copepodid stages capable of supporting development of D. medinensis larvae. Considering the ease of use, popularity and effective filtration of potentially infective copepods following prolonged field use, we recommend that monofilament filters be considered in any program of guinea worm elimination.
Imtiaz
R
R
Global 2000 Inc. Carter Presidential Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30307.
Anderson
J D
JD
Long
E G
EG
Sullivan
J J
JJ
Cline
B L
BL
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000469:parasitology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004320:Dracunculiasis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004321:Dracunculus Nematode / Q000502:physiology*; D004326:Drinking; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D010571:Pest Control