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The Transmission of Bancroftial Filariasis on Ukara Island, Tanganyika. III.—Biting-incidences on Man and Filarial Infections in wild-caught Mosquitos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. Smith
A. Smith
Affiliation:
Entomologist, Filariasis Research Unit, Mwanza, Tanganyika.
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Extract

The seasonal biting-incidences on man of several species of mosquito inside and outside huts of villages on Ukara Island, Tanganyika, between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. East African Standard Time are recorded. Anopheles gambiae Giles and A. funestus Giles were by far the most common indoor biters in both of the villages which received study: they were also taken biting outdoors in fair numbers. Tacniorhynchus africanus (Theo.) and T. uniformis (Theo.) were common outdoor biters in a village near a swamp, but were taken in only small numbers off human “bait” in a cone hut.

A study of sleeping arrangements in huts showed that people between six and sixteen years of age were most exposed to the risk of mosquito bites at night, since they were least protected by covers and clothing.

The inhabitants were bitten by Aëdes africanus (Theo.) and Aë. apicoargenteus (Theo.) outdoors by day, and by small numbers of A. gambiae and A. funestus in huts during daylight hours in April.

The results are given in detail of dissections for developing filarial worms in over seven thousand mosquitos. Proboscis infections occurred in A. gambiae and A. funestus. Immature (thoracic) forms were found in A. pharoensis Theo., T. africanus, T. uniformis and Culex antennatus (Beck.).

It is concluded that the biting-habits of A. gambiae and A. funestus point to them as more likely vectors of bancroftial filariasis than other species with developing filarial worms.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , October 1955 , pp. 495 - 504
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1955

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References

East Africa High Commission 1951. Filariasis Research Unit. Annual report 1950.—61 pp. Nairobi.Google Scholar
Smith, A. (1955 a). The transmission of bancroftial filariasis on Ukara Island, Tanganyika. I. A geographical and ecological description of the island with an annotated list of mosquitos and other arthropods of medical importance.—Bull. ent. Res., 46, pp. 419–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, A. (1955 b). The transmission of bancroftial filariasis on Ukara Island, Tanganyika. II. The distribution of bancroftial microfilaraemia compared with the distribution of hut-haunting mosquitos and their breeding places.—Bull. ent. Res., 46, pp. 437–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar