Epidemiology of brugian filariasis in a rural community of Kerala State.

The baseline clinico-parasitological parameters collected during the initial survey and the entomological observations made during the first year as a part of a longitudinal study undertaken in a brugian endemic rural community are presented in this paper. Out of the total (11.604) examined population, 8.1 per cent had microfilaraemia and 7.6 per cent had filarial disease. A highly significant (P less than 0.001) relationship of age was observed with microfilaraemia and the disease. The filarial disease rate showed no significant difference between two sexes while the microfilaria (Mf) rate was significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in males than females. A significant (P less than 0.001) relationship of microfilaraemia as well as of filarial disease was found with the income and the educational status of the individual. The mf and the disease rates did not differ by the family size except those families with 1-3 members. However, the relationship of family size was found to be significant (P less than 0.001) with disease and non-significant (P greater than 0.05) with microfilaraemia. The vectors were prevalent throughout the year but the infection was mostly confined to Mansonia annulifera.