Prevalence of bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan district, West Bengal: II. Vector and microfilariae density in colliery and non-colliery areas.

The paper reports the density of Culex quinquefasciatus, infection and infectivity rates, microfilariae(mf)- density and microfilaraemic persons in the colliery and non-colliery areas of Burdwan district, West Bengal. The numbers C. quinquefasciatus were significantly higher in colliery areas, as compared to non-colliery areas. The infection rate and infectivity rates of the vector were found to be higher in colliery areas. The higher vector density in colliery area is one of the major reasons of higher prevalence of filariasis in that area. However, other environmental factors like exposure of the host to the coal might influence the pathogenesis of filariasis in the colliery area.