Surveillance for transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Colombo and Gampaha districts of Sri Lanka following mass drug administration.
Sri Lanka was recently declared by WHO to have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem, after conclusion of annual mass drug administration. Our aim was to assess the lymphatic filariasis situation, following mass drug administration.



Surveillance was done in two districts of the Western Province in two consecutive phases (2009-2010 and 2013-2015), by examining 2461 thick night blood smears and performing 250 dipstick tests on children for antibodies to Brugia malayi.



Decline in bancroftian microfilaraemia (microfilaria rate 0.32% to zero) supports elimination, but re-emergence of brugian filariasisis (antibody rate, 1.6%; one microfilaria positive) is a cause for concern.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka nilminicha64@gmail.com.
Nilmini T G A
NT
Chandrasena
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Ranjan
R
Premaratna
Anti Filariasis Campaign, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.
Dilhani S
DS
Samarasekera
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Nilanthi R
NR
de Silva
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000074381:Mass Drug Administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000187:drug effects
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole
Brugia malayi; Elimination; Lymphatic filariasis; Post mass drug administration surveillance; Sri Lanka; Wuchereria bancrofti