الفهرس 
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Abstract
The aim of the present work was to detect the prevalence of bancoftian filariasis in individuals with suspected clinical manifestations in Tema, El-Maragha, Akhmeem and Girga districts in Sohag Governorate.
For this purpose, thick blood film samples were collected from 500 clinically suspected individuals representing different sexes and ages suffering from lower limb non-pitting oedema and/or inguinal lymphadenitis were collected from each of the fore mentioned districts from May 2015 to February 2017. Finger prick thick blood films were prepared between 10 pm and 2 am from 155 individuals from Tema district 145 individuals from El-Margha district, 95 persons from Akhmeem district and 105 persons from Girga district. The age groups were variable between 10 to more than 50 years old. Thick giemsa-staind blood films were done through finger pricks to be examined microscopically for microfilaraemia.
In the present study using thick blood examination only 3 patients (0.6%) were infected with microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti out of 500 patients in the Medical Units serving the locality where the patients were collected. Moreover one chronic case was detected with severe chronic elephantiasis that was amicrofilaraemic but was confirmed serologically as positive for W. bancrofti.
Regarding the age incidence in the present study it was noticed that no bancroftian filariasis cases have been found at age less than 30 years old. Only one case has been found at age 30-40 years old (0.8%), two cases have been found at age 40-50 years old (1.1%) and only one case has been found at age more than 50 years old(0.9%).
Regarding patient’s gender in the present study it was estimated that three men (0.9%) and only one woman (0.5%) has been infected.
Regarding the patient’s occupation in the present study it was found that two farmers (3.1%) , one employer (0.9) and one housewife (1.1%) has been infected; while there was no infected cases among skilled, unskilled and free business individuals.
Regarding the patient’s residence in the present study it was recorded that three out of 371 (0.8%) were from rural areas and only one out of 129 (0.8%) from urban areas.
Regarding the place of residence in the present study it was found that one case has been found in Tema (0.6) , one case has been found in El-maragha (0.7) and 2 cases have been found in Girga (1.9) but no cases have been found in Ekhmeem .
In conclusion, bancroftian filariasis is still endemic in three districts in Sohag Governorate (Tema, El- maragha and Girga). Although in sporadic few cases, the problem should be taken seriously as one microfilaramic patient could be a patent reservoir for spreading of the disease through infecting the prevalent Culex pipiense intermediate host.
Recommendations
1-The health authorities in Sohag Governorate should consider the disease of lymphatic filariasis as a serious endemic disease and provide the drugs in an attempt to control the disease.
2- There must be regular medical campaigns against the disease in all affected districts.
3-Reports of disease spread should be regularly submitted to the WHO to take its responsibility in planning the most update control measures against the future spread of the disease.
4- Ministry of Health should do her best to fight the transmission culicine vectors by using effective insecticides in different areas of Sohag Governorate as well as all other Egyptian Governorates.