title: Epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saesie Tsaeda-emba district, eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic and neglected diseases known to exist in Ethiopian highlands. However, little is known about its epidemiological characteristics. Hence, this study was initiated and conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to assess the epidemiological situation of CL in Saesie Tsaeda-emba District.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional design was employed in six randomly selected Peasant associations and a house to house survey was carried out in the District. Detailed clinical assessment, and smear and culture for Leishmania parasite detection were done to confirm clinical suspension. Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-1) sequences was used to type isolates. Sandfly collection was also conducted in possible micro-habitats of the target areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of CL in the District was 14.0% (6.7% for active lesion and 7.3% for scar) with the highest prevalence amongst the age group of 10-19 years. Field isolates typed were L. aethiopica. Environmental and host risk factors significantly associated with CL distribution were age, study Peasant associations, presence of cave/gorge, walls with cracks and/or holes, presence of hyrax, animal burrow, animal dung and farm land near to residents' houses. Five phlebotomine sandflies, Phlebotomus longipes, Sergentomyia bedfordi, S.africana, S.schwetzi and S.antenata were captured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the precipitating factors in the area are indicative of the public health importance of CL although there has been little attention given. The present study is a starter for wider investigation into the mode of its transmission, incrimination of sandfly vectors and possible animal reservoirs. Detailed information will be the basis to launch effective control of CL in the area.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P O Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia. evermam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abrha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bsrat
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institution of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. nega_berhe@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nega
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berhe
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institution of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. meshesha_b@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Meshesha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balkew
authors.affiliation: Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, P O Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia. mekonnenyohannes@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Mekonnen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. tsigsha@yahoo.com.|Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle, Ethiopia. tsigsha@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tsigemariam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teklu
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. endalamawgadisa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Endalamaw
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gadisa
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lemma Institution of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. gtmedhin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Girmay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medhin
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. adugnabe@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Adugna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007043:Hyraxes; D007223:Infant; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D044382:Population Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult