Table 1 Chronological list of historical studies and reports of W.bancrofti prevalence and disease cases
Time | Province | Region/location | Prevalence/cases | Notes | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1900s | Bas Congo | Boma | 1 case | Filaria nocturna (W. bancrofti) found in night blood from a boy | Van Campenhout and Dreypondt 1901 [39] |
1930s | Oriental | Uele | Cases | Elephantiasis and hydrocele s - no W. bancrofti microfilaria detected | Van den Berghe 1941 [42] |
| Â | Bas Congo | Matadi Thysville and Luozi Kinshasa environs (Leopoldville) | 12-36% 2-8% 0.1% | 42 cases from villages around mouth/lower Congo River 1-4 cases from villages northward from mouth of Congo River 1 case from 1101 individuals examined from villages in region | Henrard et al. 1946 [44] |
| Â | Â | Kinshasa Matadi | 0.8% 3% | 14 cases from 1824 hospital patients screened for infection 47 cases from 1500 hospital patients, villages close to Angola border | Hernard et al. 1946 [44] |
| Â | Bandundu | Idiofa Bandundu (Banningville) | 3- 16% 3-31% | 14 cases from villages along Kasai River 11 cases, most from villages along Kwango River | Henrard et al. 1946 [44] |
|  | Équateur | Mbandaka (Coquilhatville) | 1-3% | 3-4 cases, all considered to be from external endemic areas | Henrard et al. 1946 [44]. |
1940s | Bandundu | Kwango River Kwilu River Inzia, Kasai and Wamba Rivers | 20% 12% 2.4 - 3.4% | Overall villages on rivers had higher mf (12.8%) rates compared with villages more than 2 km away (1.5%). Villages along the Kwango river had the highest rates. | Fain 1947 [47] |
| Â | Bandundu | Kwango River | Cases | Clinical case examination of patients from villages along river | Fain 1951 [49] |
|  | Équateur | Mbandaka (Coquilhatville) | 4.8% | 249 prisoners examined, cases likely from external endemic areas | Chardome & Peel 1949 [43] |
| Â | Orientale | Yahuma, Basoko District | 46% | 25 cases from 54 adult males examined in villages south of Yahuma | Bellefontaine 1949 [51] |
1950s | Bandundu | Kasongo Lunda | 12 cases | Typical signs detected in patients during 188 hernia operations | Van Oye and Pierquin 1961 [38] |
|  | Équateur | Bumba, Banzyville, Gemena, Ikela |  | Reported to be widespread in northern region of province | Van Oye and Pierquin 1960 [37] |
1960s | Oriental | Lomami | 63-67% adults | 9% in youths, 4% children, cases found in villages along Congo River. Hydrocele in 20% of adult males, low prevalence of elephantiasis | Browne 1960 [50] |
| Â | Kasia, Oriental | Not specified | - | Disease widespread, most cases reported from Kasai and Oriental | Dept of Health 1965 |
|  | Équateur | Tshuapa (Cuvette Central) | 0.6% | 4 cases from villages on Maringa River and Lomela River, most villages examined in region were free from disease | Fain et a.l. 1969 [45] |
1970s | Bas Congo | Kimbanza, Mayubu region | 32% | 18 cases from 56 people in one village close to lower Congo River, all other villages in region free of disease. | Fain et al. 1974 [48] |