Synthetic-fibre filters for preventing dracunculiasis: 100 versus 200 micrometres pore size.
Filtering of drinking water to remove the copepod intermediate hosts of Dracunculus medinensis is a primary strategy for control of guinea-worm disease. Since filters of different porosities are used, we tested the efficiency of synthetic-fibre filters of 100 microns and 200 microns pore size in removing the various stages of 3 species of copepods from water samples. The 200 microns mesh retained the larger copepodid stages including adults (C III-VI), but permitted passage of smaller copepodids and all naupliar stages. The 100 microns mesh retained all but the earliest naupliar stages (N I-II) which are unlikely to harbour guinea-worm larvae.
Sullivan
J J
JJ
Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Long
E G
EG
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004320:Dracunculiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D014881:Water Supply