title: Visceral Leishmaniasis in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia: Reemerging or Emerging?
abstract: Kala-azar is a growing public health problem in Ethiopia. Benishangul-Gumuz regional state was previously not known to be endemic for the disease. In response to a case report from the region, we conducted a rapid assessment survey. A pretested questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic and clinical histories pertinent to kala-azar. Study participants with complaints of fever and headache for 2 weeks or more were tested for kala-azar and malaria. All participants were screened with the leishmanin skin test and the direct agglutination test for exposure to Leishmania, defined as a positive result with either or both tests. Of 275 participants, 20 were exposed giving an overall leishmaniasis seroprevalence rate of 7.3%. Among the 20 positive individuals, 19 were farmers and nine of them reported no travel history outside their district. It appears that kala-azar is emerging in Dangur and Guba districts of Benishangul-Gumuz regional state, probably in connection with human encroachment into one or several previously out-of-reach zoonotic foci. We recommend integrated epidemiological surveys for confirmation and early containment of disease transmission in the area.
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Adugna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abera
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Geremew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasew
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Teshome
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsegaw
authors.affiliation: Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Health Bureau, Assosa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Asfaw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kejella
authors.affiliation: Disease Prevention and Control Programs, World Health Organization, Ethiopia Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abate
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulugeta
authors.affiliation: KalaCORE Consortium, Ethiopia Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dagimlidet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Worku
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aseffa
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. endalamawgadisa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Endalamaw
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gadisa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; C032127:leishmanin