Tanzania filariasis project: studies on microfilaraemia and selected clinical manifestations of Bancroftian filariasis.

In a total of 1977 males aged 5 years and over examined in 21 cluster samples on the coast of Tanzania, the overall rate for microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti was 32%. Hydrocoele and elephantiasis rates were 39% and 3%, respectively. The rates and severity of these 2 clinical manifestations increased in the older age groups. Both the microfilarial density and prevalence increased rapidly in the early age groups, followed by a levelling off and then a slight fall in old age. There was no association between microfilarial densities or rates and the overall prevalence of hydrocoele, but a negative association was demonstrated between microfilaraemia and hydrocoeles and elephantiasis. A comparison between the length of residence in an endemic area and the microfilarial and clinical sign rates showed evidence for the long incubation period for W. bancrofti and for the slow development of hydrocoeles and elephantiasis.