Lymphatic filariasis : epidemiology, treatment and prevention -- the Indian perspective

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a group of human and animal infectious diseases caused by nematode parasites of the order Filariidae. Often neglected, it is one of the oldest and the most debilitating tropical diseases (NTDs), transmitted from human to human by mosquitoes bites, particularly the brown black mosquito known as __Culex quinquifasciatus__. LF is a major public health problem in many parts of the tropics, especially India, which accounts for as much as 40% of total global cases. As a leading cause of permanent and long-term disability worldwide, the parasite infection imposes a severe physical and socioeconomic burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.4 billion people live in high-risk areas – 120 million of which are already infected with LF, including 22 million children below the age of 15 and about 76 million who suffer from damaged lymphatic and renal systems. India has made great strides toward eliminating the disease, and these advances are of global significance. They include early diagnosis mechanisms, vaccine product development, detection of parasites in the vector, and studies on parasite evolution trends in nature as warning signals. Reports on the successes and failures are needed to enable measures to be taken to avoid disaster and ensure a smooth transition from endemicity in India to the elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2020. This book, which gathers highly original contributions on various subjects related to lymphatic filariasis, discusses the latest scientific research that will help the nation to achieve this milestone. It also serves as a guide to many other countries struggling against this highly debilitating and incapacitating disease. Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Epidemiology of Lymphatic Filariasis (P. L. Joshi)....Pages 1-14 Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination: Update for Mission Possible (P. K. Srivastava, A. C. Dhariwal)....Pages 15-32 Next Step Lymphatic Filariasis Eradication: Current Status in the Development of a Vaccine Against Lymphatic Filariasis (Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram)....Pages 33-46 Progress in the Treatment and Control of Lymphatic Filariasis (Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya, Mohd. Shahab)....Pages 47-58 Immunotechnological Advancements in Developing Vaccines for Lymphatic Filariasis (Prince R. Prabhu, Jayaprakasam Madhumathi, Perumal Kaliraj)....Pages 59-80 Recombinant Filarial, Wolbachia Antigens and their Role in the Immunopathogenesis of Human Lymphatic Filariasis (Kirthika Sreenivas, Kamalakannan Vijayan, Rangarajan Badri Narayanan)....Pages 81-97 Transmission Potential of Wuchereria bancrofti by Culex quinquefasciatus in Malaysia and Its Global Significance (Indra Vythilingam)....Pages 99-105 Genetic Diversity, Molecular Markers, and Population Genetics of Human Lymphatic Filarial Parasites (S. L. Hoti, R. Dhamodharan)....Pages 107-127 Transmission Dynamics of Diurnally Subperiodic Lymphatic Filariasis in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A. N. Shriram, K. Krishnamoorthy, P. Vijayachari)....Pages 129-137 Success Story and Challenges Faced to Achieve ‘Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis’ Status in Tamil Nadu (S. Elango)....Pages 139-148 Prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis in the Northeastern States of India, with Particular Reference to Assam and Prospects of Elimination (A. M. Khan, P. Dutta, S. A. Khan, J. Mahanta)....Pages 149-164 An Overview of Lymphatic Filariasis Control in Puducherry, Union Territory, India (Bhagyasree M. R.)....Pages 165-170 Sporadic Incidence of Lymphatic Filariasis in Nonendemic State of Rajasthan and Control of the Vector (Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823), with Innovative Botanicals and a Possible Hypothesis on the Spread of ‘Disease Endemism’ (Arti Prasad, Girima Nagda)....Pages 171-183 Integrated Vector Control for the Elimination of Bancroftian Filariasis in the Villages of Tirukoilur, South India (I. P. Sunish, M. Kalimuthu, Ashok Kumar, R. Rajendran, A. Munirathinam, N. Nagaraj et al.)....Pages 185-192 The Indian Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme: The Success to Sustain (P. K. Srivastava, A. C. Dhariwal, B. K. Tyagi)....Pages 193-198 Bioecology, Insecticide Susceptibility and Management of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823: A Major Vector of Lymphatic Filariasis in India (Reji Gopalakrishnan, Vijay Veer)....Pages 199-210 Ecology and Biology of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, in Two Physiographically Different Ecosystems with Special Reference to Human Lymphatic Filariasis in West Bengal, India (Sajal Bhattacharya, Probal Basu)....Pages 211-226 Actinobacteria: A Promising Biocontrol Agent for Filariasis Vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae) (K. Rajesh, D. Dhanasekaran)....Pages 227-245 Nanopesticides: A Boon Towards the Control of Dreadful Vectors of Lymphatic Filariasis (Prabhakar Mishra, A. P. B. Balaji, B. K. Tyagi, Amitava Mukherjee, N. Chandrasekaran)....Pages 247-257 Identification and Mapping of Breeding Habitats of the Filariasis Vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies: A Case Study from the Endemic Tamil Nadu State, India (P. Suganthi, M. Govindaraju, Rajiv Das Kangabam, K. Suganthi, V. Thenmozhi, B. K. Tyagi)....Pages 259-269 Scenario of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in Bangladesh: A Scientific Approach (Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Moazzem Hossain)....Pages 271-279 Biological Control of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae), the Ubiquitous Vector for Lymphatic Filariasis: A Review (B. Reddya Naik)....Pages 281-292 Chemical Control of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823), the Principal Vector of Bancroftian Filariasis, with Emphasis on Resistance Development Against Insecticides in India (T. Mariappan, B. K. Tyagi)....Pages 293-306 Perspectives of Lymphatic Filariasis with Special Reference to “Sleepada”: An Ayurvedic Loom (Kancherla Prameela Devi, P. Srinivas, Rohini)....Pages 307-314