[An epidemiological survey of visceral leishmaniasis in Hamangou coal mine area of Korla City, Xinjiang].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the epidemiological status of visceral leishmaniasis in Hamangou coal mine area of Korla City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.


METHODS
Based on a hint of possible existence of patients, a retrospective survey was carried out house by house to find cases with suspected signs/symptoms of the disease. Meanwhile, a survey on current status was conducted, including physical examination (liver and spleen palpation) to those less than 15 years-old, leishmanin skin test and rk39 immunochromatographic strip test for part of the residents. Bone marrow smears were examined for the cases with clinical signs/symptoms and positive rk39 strip test. Sandflies were collected using routine methods in and around the area, identified, and dissected to find infection of promastigotes.


RESULTS
Leishmanin skin test was performed in 185 people with a positive rate of 21.1% (39/185), 39 out of 140 local residents who have lived there for more than 6 years showed positive (27.9%), while all residents who have lived less than 6 years and children under 5 years old were negative. Of the 81 children under 15 years old with a negative skin test, one showed positive for rk39 strip test, and leishmania body was found in the bone marrow smear of this case, so confirmed as visceral leishmaniasis. 12 sandflies were identified as Phlebotomus alexandri, and natural infection with promastigotes was found in one sandly.


CONCLUSIONS
The investigation confirms that visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the Hamangou coal mine area.
Osman
Yisilayin
Y
Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urnmqi 830002, China.
Gu
Deng-An
DA
Zuo
Xin-Ping
XP
Lan
Qin-Xian
QX
Zhou
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Tong
Su-Xiang
SX
Li
Xiong
X
Zhang
Yi
Y
Jumahun
Ruziguli
R
Chen
Wei
W
Zhao
Wei-Qing
WQ
Li
Jian-Fa
JF
Yin
Yan-Ju
YJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003032:Coal Mining; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D055815:Young Adult