title: Clinicoepidemiologic pattern of cutaneous leishmaniasis and molecular characterization of its causative agent in Hajjah governorate, northwest of Yemen.
abstract: The clinicoepidemiologic profile of 143 cases (93 males and 50 females) with cutaneous leishmaniasis from 18 villages of Hajjah governorate, Yemen was studied. Dry-type lesions were seen in 98.6% and wet-type lesions in 1.4% of patients. Lesions were localized in all cases with different morphological patterns. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained slit smears revealed amastigotes in 74.1% of patients with dry-type lesions and 0% in patients with wet-type lesions. The burden of the parasites in the lesions was high indicating active transmission of the disease. Most cases were from villages with moderate altitude range (8001-1600m). All age groups were affected, but most cases were seen in ages from 5 to 15 years. Leishmania species identification was done for all cases by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The biopsic material was scraped from both Giemsa-stained and methanol-fixed smears. The molecular characterization of Leishmania species revealed Leishmania tropica as the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Hajjah, Yemen. The risk factors associated with the transmission of the disease and recommendations for improving case detection were discussed.
authors: Biology Department, Hajjah University, Yemen.
authors: Nabil M
authors: NM
authors: Mogalli
authors: Research and Training Center on Vectors of Diseases; Faculty of Science Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Postal Code 11566, Egypt.
authors: Shabaan S
authors: SS
authors: El Hossary
authors: Saudi Hospital, Hajjah, Yemen.
authors: Mishri Lal
authors: ML
authors: Khatri
authors: Biology Department, Hajjah University, Yemen.
authors: Abdualdaim M
authors: AM
authors: Mukred
authors: Institute of Environmental Studies and Research, Ain Shams University, Postal Code 11566, Egypt. Electronic address: hakassem@aucegypt.edu.
authors: Hala A
authors: HA
authors: Kassem
authors: Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Postal Code 11566, Egypt.
authors: Bahira M
authors: BM
authors: El Sawaf
authors: Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Postal Code 11566, Egypt.
authors: Nadia F
authors: NF
authors: Ramadan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000235:genetics; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D059208:Parasite Load; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012307:Risk Factors; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Epidemiology; Leishmania tropica; PCR-RFLP; Yemen