[Historical epidemiology of bancroftian filariasis in southwest islands of the Indian Ocean].

Bancroftian filariasis arose in the South-West Indian Ocean Islands with human settlements. During the XIXe century, most of the islands were infected but the prevalence and clinical features of the disease were different from an Island to an other. The vectors are Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. gambiae, An. arabiensis, An. funestus. Even if Culex are proven vectors most of the transmission is due to anophelines. The introduction of the parasite was followed by an explosion of the diseases with dramatic clinical features. But since the beginning of the century the disease retreats. Whatever this is due to malaria vector control and specifies chemoprophylaxis or is linked to the rise of life standard is still a subject of debate.