Molecular xenomonitoring (MX) and transmission assessment survey (TAS) of lymphatic filariasis elimination in two villages, Menoufyia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is focally endemic in Egypt where the female mosquito, Culex pipiens, is responsible for its transmission. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of implementation of the 13th round of MDA in two Egyptian villages in the Menoufyia Governorate area after failing the transmission assessment survey (TAS) in 2005 using two methods, and to decide whether it is safe to stop MDA in these, as well as in similar implementation units (IUs). To achieve this aim, both the immunochromatographic card test (ICT) and molecular xenomonitoring (MX) techniques were employed. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the villages in 2014 with two sections:Section (1): a school-based survey where all the primary school entrants (6–7) years of age were tested by ICT.Section (2): a mosquito-based survey where a total of 152 mosquito pools collected from Samalay and 167 from Kafr El-Tarainah were tested for the presence of the gDNA of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria by real-time PCR assays. The results revealed that all primary school children in both villages were 100% negative for antigenemia. Also, all mosquito pools were 100% negative for the microfilarial gDNA.