title: Epidemiology of subperiodic Wuchereria bancrofti infection in the Nicobar Islands, India.
abstract: Diurnally subperiodic filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti has been reported from tribal populations in the Nancowry group of islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. This was confirmed in a survey carried out during the monsoon season in 1993. Microfilariae were detected in the peripheral blood throughout a 24 h period with a peak at 18:00. The microfilaria (mf) rate ranged from 1.2% to 18.7%, with a low disease rate (mean = 1.9%). Incidence of mf was low in children less than 10 years old (3.5%), but increased with increasing age. Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus was present at a very low density. Aedes (Finlaya) niveus and Aedes (Stegomyia) malayensis were the only species commonly biting man. The former was incriminated as a vector, and found naturally infected with W. bancrofti (infection and infectivity rates 1.1% and 0.9% respectively). After experimental feeding on donors, W. bancrofti developed to L3 stage larvae in A. niveus but failed to develop in A. malayensis and A. aegypti.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai, India.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiriyan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reuben
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D015995:Prevalence; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000302:isolation & purification