| dc.description.abstract | Brugia patei is a filarial worm that was discovered
in cats, dogs and genet cats rn Pate Island (Lamu
district) by BUCKLEY et el (1958).
Subsequent epidemiological studies by HEISCH et al
(1959) and NELSON et al (1962) indicated the presence of
the parasite in Pate island but since then no further
epidemiological work has been published.
This work sought to find out if B. patel is still
present in Pate islands, Kenya and, if so, to determine
its prevalence in man (if any) and animals, with a view
to establishing whether it plays any role r n human
filariasis in the country.
In determining the prevalence of Brugia patei blood
samples (20 mm3) were , obtained from people of all ages ,
mainly at night in parts of Lamu and Tana River
districts. In total 814 people were examined out of
whom only 24 pe12P}e were found with microfilariae of
Wuchereria bancrofti in their blood. None had li patei
infection. One hundred and twenty nine cats and 67 dogs were
examined but none was found with any filarial infection. Also
a total of 4,950 mosquitoes were dissected but no larvae
were recovered.
The results of this work indicate that the only
human filarial infection present in the areas covered
is Wuchereria bancrofti and that Bregia patei seems to
have disappeared from the Island it was first discovered
In. The low level of bancrofti incidence found could
be due to extensive mosquito control campaigns combined
with mass treatment of the inhabitants with
diethylcarbamazine citrate. But the disappearance of
Brugia patei can be explained in terms of environmental
changes over 30 years' period coupl ed wi th mosqui tocontrol
campaigns.
From the findings of this work and observations from
other studies it may be concluded that filariasis is an
easily controllable infection whose intensity can be
greatly reduced through sound environmental management,
vector control and mass treatment with an appropriate
drug. | en |
