Method for community follow-up and treatment.

<p>Method for community follow-up and treatment.</p

Number of ICT positive students by division, EU and sex of student.

<p>Number of ICT positive students by division, EU and sex of student.</p

Baseline prevalence in endemic districts in 2001.

<p>Baseline prevalence in endemic districts in 2001.</p

Endemicity and TAS status of districts.

<p>A. Endemic status of districts in 2001. B. TAS status of districts in 2015.</p

Maps of TAS endemic districts and ICT positive upazilas and unions.

<p>TAS 1: A. Positive upazilas. B. Close-up positive upazilas. C. Close-up positive unions. TAS 2 and TAS 3: D. Positive upazilas. E. Close-up positive upazilas. F. Close-up positive unions.</p

Schedule for TAS (and Pre-TAS) Surveys.

<p>Schedule for TAS (and Pre-TAS) Surveys.</p

Summary measures and TAS 1–3 results for the 19 endemic districts (received MDA).

<p>Summary measures and TAS 1–3 results for the 19 endemic districts (received MDA).</p

Summary measures and TAS results for the 15 low endemic districts (not received MDA).

<p>Summary measures and TAS results for the 15 low endemic districts (not received MDA).</p

Endemic districts scaling up and down MDA and TAS activities.

<p>Endemic districts scaling up and down MDA and TAS activities.</p

Molecular xenomonitoring for <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i> in <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> in two districts in Bangladesh supports transmission assessment survey findings

<div><p>Background</p><p>Careful monitoring for recrudescence of <i>Wuchereria bancrofti</i> infection is necessary in communities where mass drug administration (MDA) for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem has been stopped. During the post-MDA period, transmission assessment surveys (TAS) are recommended by the World Health Organization to monitor the presence of the parasite in humans. Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), a method by which parasite infection in the mosquito population is monitored, has also been proposed as a sensitive method to determine whether the parasite is still present in the human population. The aim of this study was to conduct an MX evaluation in two areas of Bangladesh, one previously endemic district that had stopped MDA (Panchagarh), and part of a non-endemic district (Gaibandha) that borders the district where transmission was most recently recorded.</p><p>Methodology/Principal findings</p><p>Mosquitoes were systematically collected from 180 trap sites per district and mosquito pools were tested for <i>W</i>. <i>bancrofti</i> using real-time PCR. A total of 23,436 intact mosquitoes, representing 31 species, were collected from the two districts, of which 10,344 (41%) were <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>, the vector of <i>W</i>. <i>bancrofti</i> in Bangladesh. All of the 594 pools of <i>Cx</i>. <i>quinquefasciatus</i> tested by real-time PCR were negative for the presence of <i>W</i>. <i>bancrofti</i> DNA.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>This study suggested the absence of <i>W</i>. <i>bancrofti</i> in these districts. MX could be a sensitive tool to confirm interruption of LF transmission in areas considered at higher risk of recrudescence, particularly in countries like Bangladesh where entomological and laboratory capacity to perform MX is available.</p></div