Lymphatic filariasis in Ghana: Establishing the potential for an urban cycle of transmission
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Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical Medicine and international Health
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is a significant public health and economic problem in many tropical and subtropical regions. Unplanned urbanization leading to a lack of proper sanitary conditions has resulted in an increase in the urban-based transmission of a number of vector-borne diseases, including lymphatic filariasis. It has been well established that lymphatic filariasis is endemic in rural areas of Ghana. The goal of this study was to determine if there is a potential of establishing urban transmission cycles in Ghana's major cities. We clinically and immunologically assessed 625 individuals from the three major urban areas (Bawku, Bolgatanga and Secondi/Takoradi), finding that the prevalence of infection with Wuchereria bancrofti ranged from 0 to 12.5%. The results of a polymerase chain reaction based analysis of mosquitoes collected from these areas suggested that there is a low but detectable prevalence of mosquitoes infected with W. bancrofti. We conclude that there may be a potential for an established urban transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Ghana. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Description
Keywords
Anopheles sp.; Culex quinquefasciatus; Ghana; Immunodiagnosis; Lymphatic filariasis; Mosquito; Polymerase chain reaction; Urban transmission; Wuchereria bancrofti, EMTREE medical terms: adult; article; disease transmission; economic aspect; endemic disease; filariasis; Ghana; health economics; human; major clinical study; mosquito; personal hygiene; polymerase chain reaction; prevalence; public health; rural area; sanitation; statistical significance; tropical disease; urban population; urbanization; Wuchereria bancrofti, MeSH: Adult; Aged; Animals; Anopheles gambiae; Antigens, Helminth; Culex; Elephantiasis, Filarial; Ghana; Humans; Insect Vectors; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Urban Health; Wuchereria bancrofti
Citation
Gbakima, A. A., Appawu, M. A., Dadzie, S., Karikari, C., Sackey, S. O., Baffoe-Wilmot, A., . . . Scott, A. L. (2005). Lymphatic filariasis in Ghana: Establishing the potential for an urban cycle of transmission. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 10(4), 387-392.