Historical experience in the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in the plain region of Eastern and Central China.

Li-Ren Guan,Zhong-Xing Wu

doi:10.1186/2049-9957-3-10

Li-Ren Guan, Zhong-Xing Wu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-9957-3-10

Copy DOI

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) (kala-azar) was most seriously prevalent in the plain regions of eight provinces/municipalities in the eastern and central parts of China. In the early 1950s, the number of counties/cities endemic for VL and the number of cases in the plain regions accounted for 60% and 80%, respectively, of the total numbers in the entire country. By implementing comprehensive control measures, including treatment of patients for eliminating the source of infection and spraying insecticide in endemic villages to kill sandflies, VL transmission has been brought under control in this region by the early 1960s, and no new infected cases have been found since 1983, achieving the goal of eliminating VL.

Highlights

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was most seriously prevalent in the plain regions of eight provinces/ municipalities in the eastern and central parts of China
Epidemiologically, VL in China can be divided into three types, namely anthroponotic in the plain region, anthropozoonotic in the hilly region, and enzootic in the desert region [67,68]
The incidence in human population was highest in the endemic areas, could cause an epidemic, the majority of infected people were children over five years of age and young people with a feature of family clustering, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was rare, and Ph. chinensis was endophilic

Summary

Conclusion

VL in China can be divided into three types, namely anthroponotic in the plain region, anthropozoonotic in the hilly region, and enzootic in the desert region [67,68]. The incidence in human population was highest in the endemic areas, could cause an epidemic, the majority of infected people were children over five years of age and young people with a feature of family clustering, CVL was rare, and Ph. chinensis was endophilic. In view of these characteristics, adopting the strategy of timely detection and treatment of patients for eliminating the source of infection and spraying insecticide indoors to kill sandflies, VL in this type of endemic region had been brought under control by the early 1960s.

28. Wyile JH

57. Zhang GZ

68. Guan LR

Findings

70. Guan LR