Ismail Ahmed, Yared Solomon, Dugassa Sisay, Abera Adugna, Animut Abebe, Erko Berhanu, Gebresilassie Araya
College of Veterinary Medicine, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Department of Biology, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2023 Jul 10;9(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s40794-023-00196-8.
In the Somali region of Ethiopia, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a public health concern. However, VL epidemiology and sand fly vectors have not been well studied in various areas of the regional state, including Denan district. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the sero-prevalence, associated factors, and distribution of sand fly vectors of VL in Denan district, south-eastern Ethiopia.
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to September 2021 among VL patients with classic signs and symptoms visiting Denan Health Center in south-eastern Ethiopia. Using a convenience sampling method, 187 blood samples were collected from individuals who visited Denan Health Center during the study period. Blood samples were subjected to Direct Agglutination Test for the detection of antibodies to VL. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was also used to gather information on risk factors and other characteristics of knowledge and attitude assessment. Sand flies were also collected from indoor, peri-domestic, mixed forest, and termite mounds using light and sticky traps to determine the fauna and abundance.
The overall sero-prevalence rate was 9.63% (18/187). The sero-prevalence was significantly associated with outdoor sleeping (OR = 2.82), the presence of damp floors (OR = 7.76), and sleeping outdoor near animals (OR = 3.22). Around 53.48% of the study participants had previously heard about VL. Study participants practiced different VL control methods, including bed nets (42%), insecticide spraying (32%), smoking plant parts (14%), and environmental cleaning (8%). In total, 823 sand fly specimens, comprising 12 species in two genera (Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia), were trapped and identified. The most abundant species was Sergentomyia clydei (50.18%), followed by Phlebotomus orientalis (11.42%). Also, a higher proportion of P. orientalis was found in termite mounds (65.43%), followed by mixed forest (37.8%) and peri-domestic (20.83%) habitats.
The study demonstrated a 9.63% sero-positivity of VL and a remarkable gap in knowledge, attitude, and practices towards VL. P. orientalis was also detected, which could be a probable vector in this area. Thus, public education should be prioritized to improve the community's awareness of VL and its public health impact. In addition, detailed epidemiological and entomological studies are recommended.
在埃塞俄比亚的索马里地区，内脏利什曼病（VL）是一个公共卫生问题。然而，在该地区州的各个地区，包括德纳恩区，VL的流行病学和白蛉传播媒介尚未得到充分研究。因此，本研究旨在确定埃塞俄比亚东南部德纳恩区VL的血清流行率、相关因素以及白蛉传播媒介的分布情况。
2021年4月至9月，在埃塞俄比亚东南部德纳恩健康中心就诊的有典型体征和症状的VL患者中开展了一项基于机构的横断面研究。采用便利抽样方法，从研究期间到德纳恩健康中心就诊的个体中采集了187份血样。血样进行直接凝集试验以检测VL抗体。还使用了预先测试的结构化问卷来收集有关危险因素以及知识和态度评估的其他特征的信息。还使用灯光诱捕器和粘性诱捕器从室内、居家周边、混交林和白蚁丘收集白蛉，以确定其种类和数量。
总体血清流行率为9.63%（18/187）。血清流行率与户外睡眠（比值比[OR]=2.82）、地面潮湿（OR=7.76）以及在户外靠近动物睡觉（OR=3.22）显著相关。约53.48%的研究参与者此前听说过VL。研究参与者采取了不同的VL控制方法，包括使用蚊帐（42%）、喷洒杀虫剂（32%）、熏烤植物部分（14%）和环境清洁（8%）。总共捕获并鉴定了823只白蛉标本，分属于两个属（白蛉属和司蛉属）的12个物种。数量最多的物种是克莱德司蛉（50.18%），其次是东方白蛉（11.42%）。此外，在白蚁丘中发现的东方白蛉比例更高（65.43%），其次是混交林（37.8%）和居家周边（20.83%）栖息地。
该研究显示VL的血清阳性率为9.63%，并且在对VL的知识、态度和实践方面存在显著差距。还检测到了东方白蛉，它可能是该地区的传播媒介。因此，应优先开展公众教育，以提高社区对VL及其公共卫生影响的认识。此外，建议开展详细的流行病学和昆虫学研究。
