Faculty Collaboration Database

Contrasting Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria rates in two Mangyan-populated Philippine villages. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004 Jul;71(1):17-23

Date

07/09/2004

Pubmed ID

15238683

DOI

10.4269/ajtmh.2004.71.17

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-3142543140 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis caused by infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi is endemic in 45 of 77 provinces in The Philippines. To prepare the island of Mindoro for mass treatment using diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, complete census data were collected in rural villages. A sample of individuals selected from each of two adjacent villages was examined for microfilaremia. Microfilariae were detected from thin smears in 34 (13%) of 272 patients examined from the village of Bayanan and 10 (3.4%) of 292 in the village of Mangangan (P < 0.01, by chi-square test). In these villages, the majority of those infected were members of the ethnic group known as Mangyans: 33 (97%) of 24 in Bayanan and 7 (70%) of 10 in Mangangan (risk ratio = 89, 95% confidence interval = 33-240, P < 0.001.) In children examined who were less than 10 years of age (n = 165), girls were more commonly infected than boys, even though the proportion of males in the general population was greater. Understanding sociocultural characteristics and related behaviors in future observations among the Mangyan may help to explain local differences in the distribution of filariasis. This information should also be helpful in designing more culturally appropriate strategies for the control of lymphatic filariasis among ethnic minorities in The Philippines.

Author List

Ramirez BL, Hernandez L, Alberto FF, Collins M, Nfonsam V, Punsalan T, Kron MA

Author

Michael Kron MD Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Albendazole
Animals
Antiprotozoal Agents
Child
Child, Preschool
Diethylcarbamazine
Elephantiasis, Filarial
Female
Humans
Male
Philippines
Population Surveillance
Rural Population
Wuchereria bancrofti