Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia.
<h4>Background</h4>Although there are several areas in southern Ethiopia environmentally favourable for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), studies on the existence and risk factors of CL are lacking beyond a few well-known hotspots. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors o...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311917 |
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| author | Behailu Merdekios Mesfin Kote Myrthe Pareyn Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden Johan van Griensven |
| author_facet | Behailu Merdekios Mesfin Kote Myrthe Pareyn Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden Johan van Griensven |
| author_sort | Behailu Merdekios |
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| description | <h4>Background</h4>Although there are several areas in southern Ethiopia environmentally favourable for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), studies on the existence and risk factors of CL are lacking beyond a few well-known hotspots. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of CL in Bilala Shaye, a village in the southern Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,250 meters.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional house-to-house survey was done between July-August 2021. Those with skin lesions were clinically assessed and data on individual risk behaviour and environmental and household features were collected using questionnaires. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent risk factors of CL at a 5% significance level with two-sided P-values <0.05 considered statistically significant.<h4>Result</h4>A total of 1012 individuals were interviewed; the median age was 23 years (interquartile range 12-50), with 7% below the age of five; 51% were female. All households had domestic animals, and for 143 (57%) households goats/sheep lived inside or around the house. Animal dung was found in the compounds of 194 (77%) households. The overall prevalence of active CL was 2.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-3.6), reaching 6.7% (95% CI 3.6-11.2) in children between 5-12 years old. The prevalence of CL scars was 38.5% (95% CI 35.5-41.6). In multivariate analysis, the presence of animal dung in the compound (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.5, P = 0.003) and time spent outside in the late evening in areas where hyraxes live (adjusted OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.3, P <0.001) were identified as independent risk factors.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This is the first report on the existence of CL in this village, with the high prevalence of CL scars indicating long-term endemicity. Further studies are needed to understand the role of animals and their dung in (peri)-domestic CL transmission. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b49a87a4acae4235842f010281399a2c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b49a87a4acae4235842f010281399a2c2025-01-17T05:31:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031191710.1371/journal.pone.0311917Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia.Behailu MerdekiosMesfin KoteMyrthe PareynJean-Pierre Van GeertruydenJohan van Griensven<h4>Background</h4>Although there are several areas in southern Ethiopia environmentally favourable for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), studies on the existence and risk factors of CL are lacking beyond a few well-known hotspots. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of CL in Bilala Shaye, a village in the southern Ethiopian highlands at an altitude of 2,250 meters.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional house-to-house survey was done between July-August 2021. Those with skin lesions were clinically assessed and data on individual risk behaviour and environmental and household features were collected using questionnaires. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent risk factors of CL at a 5% significance level with two-sided P-values <0.05 considered statistically significant.<h4>Result</h4>A total of 1012 individuals were interviewed; the median age was 23 years (interquartile range 12-50), with 7% below the age of five; 51% were female. All households had domestic animals, and for 143 (57%) households goats/sheep lived inside or around the house. Animal dung was found in the compounds of 194 (77%) households. The overall prevalence of active CL was 2.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-3.6), reaching 6.7% (95% CI 3.6-11.2) in children between 5-12 years old. The prevalence of CL scars was 38.5% (95% CI 35.5-41.6). In multivariate analysis, the presence of animal dung in the compound (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3-3.5, P = 0.003) and time spent outside in the late evening in areas where hyraxes live (adjusted OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.3, P <0.001) were identified as independent risk factors.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This is the first report on the existence of CL in this village, with the high prevalence of CL scars indicating long-term endemicity. Further studies are needed to understand the role of animals and their dung in (peri)-domestic CL transmission.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311917 |
| spellingShingle | Behailu Merdekios Mesfin Kote Myrthe Pareyn Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden Johan van Griensven Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. PLoS ONE |
| title | Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. |
| title_full | Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. |
| title_short | Prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in South-Ethiopia. |
| title_sort | prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a newly identified endemic site in south ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311917 |
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