Investigation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Using Conventional and Molecular Methods in Silti Woreda, Ethiopia
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Date
2007-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Man-made risk factors for leishmaniasis are increasing while knowledge of risk factors, accurate diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis is poor. As a result, deadly epidemics of leishmaniasis occur periodically, but tools for prediction and prevention are lacking. Hence, research is needed to address these constraints. Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia is mainly due to L. donovani and L. aethiopica, which causes visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis respectively.
Although the exact magnitude of the problem is not known, several surveys have indicated the importance of the diseases as a public health problem. A complete mapping of the diseases remains to be accomplished in view of the increasing number of patients reporting from regions hitherto unknown to be endemic. Therefore, the main aim of this work is to describe the epidemiology of the disease through identification of the causative agent using molecular epidemiological tools in Silti Woreda. The study was conducted in two Phases: in phase I, house-to-house survey was conducted and in phase II, parasitological identification was done. The treatment response of L. aethiopica to liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) and pentostam was documented as follow up activity. The prevalence of the disease in the area was found to be 4.82% with highest prevalence among age group 10-20 years. Some plants like Adathoda shimperina and Acacia spp. and hyraxes and domestic animals were associated with increased risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The sole
causative agent identified was L. aethiopica. The disease was found to be recently introduced in the area. In conclusion, the importance of the risk factors identified in this study should be investigated further and molecular epidemiological studies should be conducted in other areas to map the exact magnitude of the disease in the country. The clinical service in the outbreak site (Silti) needs to be prepared to provide the required care and treatment of patients who will keep coming from the area. Leishmaniasis control program has to be initiated in Ethiopia so as to prevent the disease from expanding.
Keywords/Phrases: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Risk-factor, Molecular epidemiology, Prevalence, Treatment, L. aethiopica
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Keywords
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Risk-factor, Molecular epidemiology