Non-filarial elephantiasis in the Mt. Elgon area (Kapchorwa District) of Uganda

Following reports: of a high frequency of elephantiasis in Kwen County (Kap chorwa District) on the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Uganda, a baseline survey fo r lymphatic filariasis was carried out in three villages in the affected ar ea. Individuals aged 1 year and above were examined for chronic manifestati ons of lymphatic filariasis, and for specific circulating filarial antigens and microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. Elephantiasis was observed in a ll age groups from 10 years and above. The overall prevalence was 4.5%;1. a nd the prevalence among individuals aged greater than or equal to 20 years was 8.2%. Males and females were equally affected. However, there were only a few cases of hydrocele (overall prevalence in males of 1.0%) and blood e xaminations were negative for W. bancrofti circulating antigens and microfi lariae. Sampling of potential filariasis mosquito vectors revealed low dens ities of Anopheles gambiae s.1. and An. funestus, and none of these were in fected with filarial larvae. In view of the low hydrocele to elephantiasis ratio, the absence of filarial infection in humans and mosquitoes, the high altitude (1500-2200 m above sea level) and the volcanic soil type, it is c oncluded that elephantiasis seen in this area is not of filarial origin but most likely is due to podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis). ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.