TY - JOUR
KW - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
KW - Infectious Diseases
AU - Akuffo R
AU - Sanchez C
AU - Chicharro C
AU - Carrillo E
AU - Attram N
AU - Mosore M
AU - Yeboah C
AU - Kotey NK
AU - Boakye D
AU - Ruiz-Postigo J
AU - Moreno J
AU - Wilson M
AU - Sarfo B
AU - Anto F
AU - Schallig HDFH
AB -
Background
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected Leishmania parasites among persons with skin ulcers.
Methodology/Principal findings
Using a cross-sectional study design, the prevalence of CL in three communities of the Oti Region of Ghana was investigated. Demographic and epidemiological data were obtained by a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 426 (12.4%) out of 3,440 participants screened had at least one skin ulcer. Of 595 skin ulcers sampled and tested by PCR for Leishmania infection, 150 (25.2%) ulcers from 136 individuals tested positive, accounting for an overall CL prevalence of 31.9% among persons with skin ulcers. Individual community CL prevalence of 23.2%, 29.8%, and 36.8% was observed in Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop respectively among persons with skin ulcers.
Conclusions/Significance
Confirmation of CL in the study area suggests an active cycle of transmission of Leishmania infection. The observation of skin ulcers which tested negative to Leishmania infection suggests a need to test for additional causes of skin ulcers such as Treponema pallidum pertenue and Mycobacterium ulcerans in the study area.
BT - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009416
IS - 5
LA - eng
N2 -
Background
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected Leishmania parasites among persons with skin ulcers.
Methodology/Principal findings
Using a cross-sectional study design, the prevalence of CL in three communities of the Oti Region of Ghana was investigated. Demographic and epidemiological data were obtained by a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 426 (12.4%) out of 3,440 participants screened had at least one skin ulcer. Of 595 skin ulcers sampled and tested by PCR for Leishmania infection, 150 (25.2%) ulcers from 136 individuals tested positive, accounting for an overall CL prevalence of 31.9% among persons with skin ulcers. Individual community CL prevalence of 23.2%, 29.8%, and 36.8% was observed in Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop respectively among persons with skin ulcers.
Conclusions/Significance
Confirmation of CL in the study area suggests an active cycle of transmission of Leishmania infection. The observation of skin ulcers which tested negative to Leishmania infection suggests a need to test for additional causes of skin ulcers such as Treponema pallidum pertenue and Mycobacterium ulcerans in the study area.
PB - Public Library of Science (PLoS)
PY - 2021
EP - e0009416
T2 - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
TI - Detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three communities of Oti Region, Ghana
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009416&type=printable
VL - 15
SN - 1935-2735
ER -