title: Bancroftian filariasis in two urban areas of Recife, Brazil: pre-control observations on infection and disease.
abstract: Bancroftian filariasis is a major public health problem in the city of Recife in north-eastern Brazil. In some of its urban areas microfilaraemia prevalence reaches 14%. This study describes epidemiological characteristics, infection and disease, in 2 urban areas, Coque and Mustardinha, before control measures were applied. The parasitological survey was performed by a 'door-to-door' census covering 5563 subjects, aged between 5 and 65 years. Microfilaraemia was detected by the thick drop technique, using 45 microL of peripheral blood collected between 20:00 and 24:00. In both areas the prevalence of microfilaraemia was 10%, and males had higher prevalences of infection and disease than females. The prevalence of microfilaraemia was higher in the 15-24 and 25-34 years age groups in both sexes. Most microfilaria (mf) carriers (72.1% in Coque and 79.7% in Mustadrinha) had mf densities < 100/60 microL of blood. Females of reproductive age had significantly lower mf densities than males. The overall disease prevalence in both areas was 6.3%. Amongst the subjects who presented with chronic disease 15.7% were microfilaraemic. Chronic disease prevalence increased from 1.4% in the 5-14 years age group to 11.3% in the oldest age group. The most frequent clinical manifestation was hydrocele (5.4%), followed by lymphoedema (1.8%). The epidemiological pattern of filariasis in the populations studied was marked by high prevalence of microfilaraemia, low mf density, and relatively low prevalence of filarial disease considering the level of endemicity.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recifè, Brazil.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marzochi
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sabroza
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Padilha
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti