Filariasis Research Annual Repo T 1952

Filariasis research annual report 1952 Item Type monograph Publisher East Africa High Commission Download date 26/09/2021 08:03:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35518 EAST AFRICA HIGH COMMISSION FILARIASIS RESEARCH ANNUAL REPO T 1952 .: . ~ , '. 1953 PRINTED BY THE HIGH COMM:lSSION PRINTER, NAIROBI FILARIASIS RESEARCH UNIT ANNUAL REPORT No.4, 1952 SECTION I-GENERAL lntrodnctor:y Note Due to the long waiting period before publication of articles in medical and scientific journals, the earlier Annual Reports of this Department have been detailed in presentation. As a result, such Reports could only be made available to a small proportion of interested workers. Accordingly in this publication a return is made to the more usual method of presentation, a summary being given of work done, with detailed sectional reports submitted for publication in scientific journals. Aims Prior to World War II it was thought that, with the exception of the South Pacific area, the filarial infections of the torrid zones were of secoudary import ance, and that no effective remedies were available. The experience of the Allies at war was such, however,' that by 1947 the pendulum of medical thought had swung to the other extrem~, to the view that the filarial infections are of primary importance. Also, as the result of much research, there had become available preparations claimed to be effective against the filarial infections. This change of view was responsible for tbe establishment of the Filariasis Research Unit, created in 1949 as a High Commission Service to investigate the problems of filariasis in East Africa. There are three such iufections found in this area, namely, filariasis bancrofti, onchocerciasis and .acanthocheilonemiasis; we have not studied this last-named infection in any detail, as this work had been undertaken by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Work was planned from three aspects- first: to establish the relative importance of the filarial infections by determining the incidence and by establishing the effect on the infected individual; second; to investigate methods of control, aimed at the vector, or at the reservoir., or at both; third: to investigate methods of treatment. Accommodation The Research project has its headquarters at Mwanza on Lake Victoria. The European housing is complete and the laboratory is now almost ready for occupation. Staff Director: Lt.-Col. W. Laurie, DB.O., M.D., T.D.D., LM.S. (Retd,). Physicians: P. Jordan, M.B., B.S., D.T.M. & H. One vacancy. Helminthologist: One yacancy. Entomologist: A. Smitll, B.Se., Ph.D. Lahoratory Technicians: R. Rhodes-Jones, W. Edwards, R. C. Young. Photographer: Vacant. Librarian: Vacant. 2 SECTION 1-BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS IN EAST AFRICA (1) Southern Highlands Pro In this Pro'vince particular Introductory cerciasis being present as wen previously been reported as a The two important late manifestations of bancroftian filariasis are hydro Province. In this search tbe spec coele and elephantiasis. The incidence of such late manifestations varies con administration was utilized as ou siderably from area to area, e.g. elephantiasis is common in the South Pac.ific, whereas hydrocoele is uncommon. Another complication, hitherto recognized only (a) Location and geography in the South Pacific area, is "mumu", defiued as "an acute recurrent condition The Province is bounded t< associated with lymphangitis of an extremity, with funiculitis and epididymo by the Central and Western ] establi~hed orchitis or both". This is a sensitisation phenomenon and is withiu boundary) and in the soutb it a few weeks in the majority of individuals exp'Osed to infection. It was this Lake Nyasa. condition which produced 25 per ceut casualties in the American South Pacific Force in World War 11. The Provinc;e is roughly tl angle bein~ formed by the nort Any disease which is capable of affectiug large nnmbers of the population Highlands extending from Iring and which early produces attacks of crippling fever, etc. must be regarded as a area at the northern tip of Lak serious medical and economic problem. This general consideration is reinforced and finally the low-lying area in the case of bancroftian filariasis by the fact tbat elephantiasis is a common The central part of the triangle late manifestation. of tsetse-infested bushland to th River in the east. If this were the picture 01' East African filariasis bancrCF/ti there could be no two opinions as to its seriousness. But as has been pointed out in ewier reports, we consider tllat tbe South Pacific disease is quite different from (b) Climate that found in East Africa. Here mumu is very rare, if it occurs at all; and hydro The climatic conditions e) coele is a much COITunoner late complication than is elephantiasis. graphical features outlined abc a year and in parts receive as north of Lake Nyasa has the g Field Surveys this gradually decreases towards The first essential in investigating the importance of filariasis is to establish 40 inches. The central area reo accurately the inCIdence of such infections through the whole of East Africa; this towards the east. the methods of work have been describ::d in detail in our 1951 Report. Here it need only be said ithat the work is difficult and that progress is slow, largely due Temperatures again rougr to the cutting down of the field staff and to bad communications, which allow temperature of less than 50·P. of work being carried out only for about eight months per annum. The Tanga in most places of 75°F. to 80 nyika Survey is almost complete, and survey work has begun in' Kenya. temperatures. The are<r at the r perature of between 65°F. to ' In the 1951 Report the results of surveys of the following Tanganyika 75°P. to 80°F. over most of Provinces were given in detail:- ranges in some places. The lo\\ Lake Province, of the central area have a maxi Eastern Province. The population of the Pn Highlands supporting a mode Tanga Province. Lake Nyasa is one of the m Northern Province. mentioned above, mOISt of the c This 1952 Report gives details of findings in the Southern and Southern Highlands The vegetation consists mai Provinces. Other results are not yet ready for pnblication. The work throughout has been the responsibility of Dr. P. Jordan of this Department. (c) Results Bancroftian filariasis.-Th It is hoped later to publish fuller details showing the close association of the clinical findings are shown bancroftian filariasis with high temperatures and high humidity. ~. '. !. 3 ,SIS IN EAST AFRICA (1) Southern Highlands Province In this Pro'vince particular attention was paid to the possibility of oncho cerciasis being present as wen as other filarial infections; onchocercias,is had previously been reported as a rare occurrence in two isolated areas in this lancroftian filariasis are hydro' Province. In this search the specific reaction of onchocerciasis patients to hetrazan late manifestations varies con admin.istration was utilized as one diagnostic method. common in the South Pacific, ication, hitherto recognized only (a) Location and geography , "an acute reCllrrent condition vith funiculitis and epididymo The Province is bounded to the east by the Southern Province, to the north ~enon and is establi~hed within by the Central and Western Provinces (the latter also forming the western DoSed to infection. It was this boundary) and in the south it borders on Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and Lake Nyasa. in the American South Pacific The Province is roughly triangular in shape, the southern apex of the tri rge numbers of the population aUgle being, formed by the northern end of Lake Nyasa, the eastern side by the rer, etc. must be regarded as a Highlands extending from Iringa to the lake and the west side by the low-lying lera] consideration is reinforced area at the northern tip of Lake Nyasa, the Poroto Mountains south of Mbeya, that elephantiasis is a common and finally the low-lying area round Lake Rukwa together with the lake itself. The central part of the triangle is mainly undeveloped, consi~ting of large areas of tsetse-infested bushland to the west and the low-lying valley of the great Ruaha ltiasis bancrofti there could be River in the east. las been pointed out in earlier isease is quite different from (b) Climate e, if it occurs at all; and hydro The climatic conditions experienced in the area are governed by the geo ,n is elephantiasis. graphical features outlined above. The Highlands average 50 to 60 in, of rain a year and in parts receive as much as 80 in. or more. The area immediately north of Lake Nyasa has the greatest rainfall in the Territory, with over 100 in., this..gradually decreases towards the Lake Rukwa area, which averages only 30 to :ance of filariasis is to establish 40 inches. The central area receives 30 to 40 in. in the west but rather less than Igh the whole of East Africa; this towards the east. ' IiI in our 1951 Report. Here it Jat progress is slow, largely due Temperatures again roughly foHow the contours, there being a mJnlmum i communications, which allow temperature of less than 50°F. round most of the high ground, with a maximum nonths per annum, The Tanga in most places of 75°F. to 80 OF., though the higher areas have still lower 'k has begun in' Kenya. temperatures.. The area', at the northern end of Lake Nyasa has a minimum tem perature of between 65°F. to 70°F. The maximum temperature ranges are from of the following Tanganyika 75 oF. to 80°F. over most of the high ground, with slightly lower temperature ranges in some places, The lower areas round Lake Nyasa and Rnkwa and most of the central area have a maximum temperature of over 80°F.

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