A survey on leishmaniasis and the leishmanin skin test profile in Lower Awash Valley, northeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract
Background: The prevalence of both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in various parts of Ethiopia is evident.
Earlier discrete works also give some clue of the circulation of some sort of leishmanial parasites in northeast Ethiopia.
This necessitated further work in the area designated as the Lower Awash in northeast Ethiopia.
Objectives: The study was undertaken to explore exposure to leishmanial parasites in representative sites in the Lower
Awash Valley, northeast Ethiopia.
Methods: After an assessment for clinical leishmaniases, a cross-sectional leishmanin skin test was carried out
between March 1996 and August 1997 on 789 individuals of whom 767, mostly apparently healthy study participants
returned for the reading of the reaction.
Results: The rate of positive leishmanin response in the study sites ranged from 19 to 85%, the overall prevalence
being about 40%. The difference in leishmanin reaction among the major study localities was found to be statistically
significant, the highest (50.8%) was observed in Mile locality with the lowest in Asayta (24.7%). Over 40% of males
and a third of the females showed positive response, the gender difference in leishmanin response being significant.
The rate of positive leishmanin reaction appeared to increase with age, the increase being more apparent in males.
Conclusion: The ascending positive leishmanin reaction rate with age, with a higher prevalence in the indigenous
Afars with relative preponderance in males, parallels findings in other endemic areas and reflects the relevance of
outdoor exposure to infection. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2004;18(3):159-163]