Histological and PCR xenomonitoring of culicine mosquitoes for filarial infestation in Sohag Governorate, upper Egypt.

The nematodes Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi; the principal etiologic agents of lymphatic filariasis are mosquito dependant in the biological transmission. Dirofilariasis is essentially a disease of canines which can also be transmitted to humans by culicine mosquitoes. The present work studied the histological and PCR xenomonitoring filarial infestation in culicine mosquitoes in Sohag Governorate. One hundred female mosquitoes of the 5 culicine spesies present in the selected localities, were dissected and histological sections of thoracic muscles were examined for filarial larvae. Also 50 female Culex pipiens molestus were collected from the same areas and tested for 3 filarial worms using PCR. Cx. pipiens molestus was the only culcine mosquito harbouring larvae of Wuchereria bancrofti and Dirofilaria spp. Results were compared and it was found that PCR proved easier to do and it gave better data as it was able to differentiate dirofilarial species. The results indicated a clear success of health authorities in anti-filariasis control measures and pointed out to avoid the hazard of possible occurrence of future cases of human dirofilariasis in Sohag Governorate.