Abstract

Wuchereria bancrofti has been reported to cause 90% of all cases of lymphatic filariasis in Africa. wolbachia endosymbiot infect a wide range of insects and nematodes. This study was conducted in 48 settlements (8 from each division). A total of 2003 mosquitoes was pooled into 120 clusters from the 48 settlements in The Gambia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of Wolbachia and filarial nematode and further differentiate Wolbachia into super groups among the positive samples. The level of association between Wolbachia and the genera of anthropophilic mosquitoes in The Gambia was also determined. Microscopic results showed 64.9% Anopheles, 32.0% Culex, 3.0% Aedes. PCR showed that, 34.17% of Wolbachia in the mosquito obtained varied among the three mosquito genera, with highest being among Anopheles. Only Wolbachia super group B was identified in Culex and Aedes. The purpose of this study carried out in The Gambia was to describe the most common mosquito species and to identify, by means of PCR, their association with the Wolbachia bacteria and the presence of nematodes responsible for filiariasis, in order to understand the role that this bacterium plays in the chain of filarial transmission.

Key words: Wuchereria bancrofti, Filariasis, Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus, elephantiasis.