Studies on the transmission potential of surviving microfilaremias after basic control of filariasis.

After filariasis was basically controlled (the microfilarial rate was lower than 1%) in Henan Province in 1987, longitudinal observation of the disease has been carried out in all the province in order to study the regular pattern of growth and decline or the transmission potential of the disease. According to the distribution of filaria species and original microfilarial rate, 7 administrative villages in 7 counties were selected as surveillance sites. From 1988 to 1995, etiological and mosquito vector surveys were made continuously in all sites where no control measure was conducted. 10 surviving microfilaremic individuals became negative gradually over the first 6 years and no new microfilaremia was found. Since then, the microfilarial rate was zero. During the 8 years, 19 vector mosquitos were positive, with a total of 33 filarial larva. Culex pipiens pallens was the predominant mosquito species inside human dwelling in all sites. The man-biting rate of mosquitos for outdoor sleepers fluctuated greatly, the highest was 360.60 mosquitos per man per night and the lowest 7.20. The man-biting rate of mosquitos for sleepers inside mosquito-nets was approximately 1. The proportion of multiparous mosquitos also fluctuated greatly, the highest was 88.10% and the lowest 27.27%. According to the data described above, the man-biting rate of mosquitos which contained filaria L3 was less than 1 mosquito per man per transmission season. It is suggested that after the microfilarial rate was lower than 1%, the surviving microfilaremias became negative gradually in 3-5 years, and the transmission of the disease was blocked. Therefore, in the districts where filariasis was basically controlled, elimination of the disease was attainable.