Projekt

After four or more rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole and ivermectin, the incidence of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria! worms the causative agent of Lymphatic filariasis seem to have been significantly reduced to levels of no major public health importance. Investigating whether the reported low level microfilariamia would not lead to transmission of worms into mosquito vectors is important. Using stored specimens collected from a number of study districts across the country, we propose to analyze them for L3 stage parasites to ascertain transmission disruption. Further, field studies will be carried out in currently identified sites with reservoirs of filarial worms using more sensitive mosquito collection techniques and the high throughput and more sensitive RT-PCR to investigate Anopheles species-specific current transmission W. bancrofti worms. This study if successfully implemented will provide data on disruption of LF transmission in Malawi and therefore inform the National LF Elimination Programme. In addition to programmatic significance there is an important scientific question of whether certain Anopheles species are responsible for the maintaining local pockets of transmission.

• Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fleischer

  Bernhard-Nocht-Institut
  für Tropenmedizin (BNITM)
  Hamburg
  

• Dr. Themba Mzilahowa

  University of Malawi
  Malawi College of Medicine
  Malaria Alert Centre/MLW
  Blantyre 3
  Malawi