title: Xenomonitoring of Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria immitis infections in mosquitoes from American Samoa: trapping considerations and a comparison of polymerase chain reaction assays with dissection.
abstract: Entomologic monitoring of filarial infections, xenomonitoring, may have advantages in certain epidemiologic situations to assess the presence of infections in humans. Hemalum staining and dissection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared to determine the filarial infection status of Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes in American Samoa. The overall prevalences of Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria immitis infections in Ae. polynesiensis were, respectively, 0.16% and 1.06% by dissection and 0.69% and 1.77% by PCR. Human filarial worm DNA rates in Aedes aegypti and Aedes upolensis were 1.16% and 0.38%, respectively. The results suggest that W. bancrofti transmission to humans may be continuing at low levels in some villages despite recent completion of 5 years of mass drug administration. PCR testing of mosquitoes collected using the BG-Sentinel traps represents a promising alternative to landing catches for assessing the transmission of filariasis in areas where Ae. polynesiensis and related species are the primary vectors.
authors.affiliation: Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Decatur, Georgia, USA. echambers@uky.edu
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Shannon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: McClintock
authors.forename: Melissa F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schmaedick
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lammie
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Burkot
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000469:parasitology*; D018948:American Samoa; D000818:Animals; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000635:transmission; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000635:transmission; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000302:isolation & purification*