Lymphatic filariasis in the foothill areas around Susunia of West Bengal in India

Objective:To investigate the filarial epidemiology in 16 foothill villages around Susunia hill,Bankura district, West Bengal,India.Indices studied were microfilaria rate,mean microfilarial density,filarial disease rate and endemicity rate.Other indices related to transmission were incrimination of vector species,man-hour density of the vector,vector infection and infectivity rates,human blood index of the vector etc.Methods:Examination of 20μL night blood samples by finger prick and clinical examination for filarial diseases of 3 737 people(2 241 male and 1 496 female) was done randomly covering nearly 22%population of the study area.Aspects related to vectors were dealt by regular collection and dissection of mosquitoes.Results:Overall microfilaria rate,mean microfilarial density,disease rate and endemicity rate were 6.10%,10.86%,20.20%and 25.58%,respectively. Causative parasite was identified as Wuchereria bancrofii and Culex quinquefasciatus was incriminated as the vector therein.Vector infection rate,infectivity rate and human blood index were assessed to be 6. 31%,1.38%and 77.33%,respectively.Conclusion:Present study is highly endemic for bancroftian filariasis. More than one fourth of the population under study were filarial victims indicating an overall alarming situation and immediate measure should be taken to rectify the situation.