Abstract
BackgroundCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic and neglected diseases known to exist in Ethiopian highlands. However, little is known about its epidemiological characteristics. Hence, this study was initiated and conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to assess the epidemiological situation of CL in Saesie Tsaeda-emba District.MethodsA cross sectional design was employed in six randomly selected Peasant associations and a house to house survey was carried out in the District. Detailed clinical assessment, and smear and culture for Leishmania parasite detection were done to confirm clinical suspension. Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-1) sequences was used to type isolates. Sandfly collection was also conducted in possible micro-habitats of the target areas.ResultsThe overall prevalence of CL in the District was 14.0% (6.7% for active lesion and 7.3% for scar) with the highest prevalence amongst the age group of 10–19 years. Field isolates typed were L. aethiopica. Environmental and host risk factors significantly associated with CL distribution were age, study Peasant associations, presence of cave/gorge, walls with cracks and/or holes, presence of hyrax, animal burrow, animal dung and farm land near to residents’ houses. Five phlebotomine sandflies, Phlebotomus longipes, Sergentomyia bedfordi, S.africana, S.schwetzi and S.antenata were captured.ConclusionAll the precipitating factors in the area are indicative of the public health importance of CL although there has been little attention given. The present study is a starter for wider investigation into the mode of its transmission, incrimination of sandfly vectors and possible animal reservoirs. Detailed information will be the basis to launch effective control of CL in the area.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0758-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic and neglected diseases known to exist in Ethiopian highlands
All the active lesions observed during the study were localized type (LCL)
As in other parts of the country, the study showed that this important disease has been neglected in the study area but it remains a challenging public health problem because of the various ideal environmental risk factors
Summary
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic and neglected diseases known to exist in Ethiopian highlands. Little is known about its epidemiological characteristics. In terms of global burden of the disease, leishmaniases represent the third most important vector-borne disease [1]. Due to their potentially disfiguring effects, Cutaneous (CL) and mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (MCL) have significant social impact. Tigray Regional State is in Northern Ethiopia and covers a total area of about 80,000 km2, 65% of which is cultivated. It can be broadly divided into a number of. The rich geographical diversity implies that certain ecological zones are confined to small areas, with human communities, the flora and the fauna highly adapted to subsist within them
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