Epidemiology and Transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis in SouthernSudan

Abstract

This study on Lymphatic Filariasis and its vectors has been carried out at Bahr El Jebal State (Juba and Terkaka towns) between the periods August 2004 – September 2004 and April 2005 – June 2005 . Mosquitoes , the vectors of this disease , were collected using Pyrethrum spray (Knock down ). This insect survey showed that Anopheles gambiae s.s. is the common species in Juba area but in Terkaka Culex quinquefasciatus is the common species . All insect components namely head , thorax and abdomen were dissected in search of the parasites. The result revealed that the parasite , causing Elephantiasis (chronic filariasis ) is Wuchereria bancrofti. From the total number of mosquitoes collected (2729) only 81 individuals were found infected : 60 Anopheles and 21 Culex The overall rate of the mosquitoes which carried the first , second and third stages of the parasite was 2.9 %, but the rate of mosquitoes which carried the infective stage (L3) reached its maximum at Rajaf west (4.2 %) . The observations showed that the disease is prevalent in Juba and Terkaka . Males were more affected by the disease than females specially in the villages. A similar visit was also made to Blue Nile State being a second area where this disease prevailed