Journal Article

A cross-sectional study of the filarial and Leishmania co-endemicity in two ecologically distinct settings in Mali

Faye, Ousmane, Semnani, Roshanak Tolouei, Sangare, Moussa Brema, Samake, Sibiry, Traore, Bourama, Nutman, Thomas Bruce, Oliveira, Fabiano, Kamhawi, Shaden, Sissoko, Ibrahim Moussa, Traore, Sekou Fantamady, Doumbia, Seydou, Coulibaly, Siaka Yamoussa, Coulibaly, Michel Emmanuel, Valenzuela, Jesus Gilberto, Coulibaly, Yaya Ibrahim, Dicko, Ilo

2018

Overview

Background Filariasis and leishmaniasis are two neglected tropical diseases in Mali. Due to distribution and associated clinical features, both diseases are of concern to public health. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of co-infection with filarial ( Wuchereria bancrofti and Mansonella perstans ) and Leishmania major parasites in two ecologically distinct areas of Mali, the Kolokani district (villages of Tieneguebougou and Bougoudiana) in North Sudan Savanna area, and the district of Kolondieba (village of Boundioba) in the South Sudan Savanna area. Methods The prevalence of co-infection (filarial and Leishmania ) was measured based on (i) Mansonella perstans microfilaremia count and/or filariasis immunochromatographic test (ICT) for Wuchereria bancrofti- specific circulating antigen, and (ii) the prevalence of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to Leishmania measured by leishmanin skin test (LST). Results In this study, a total of 930 volunteers between the age of 18 and 65 were included from the two endemic areas of Kolokani and Kolondieba. In general, in both areas, filarial infection was more prevalent than Leishmania infection with an overall prevalence of 15.27% (142/930) including 8.7% (81/930) for Mansonella perstans and 8% (74/930) for Wuchereria bancrofti- specific circulating antigen. The prevalence of Leishmania major infection was 7.7% (72/930) and was significantly higher in Tieneguebougou and Bougoudiana (15.05%; 64/425) than in Boundioba (2.04%; 8/505) ( χ 2  = 58.66, P  < 0.0001). Among the filarial infected population, nearly 10% (14/142) were also positive for Leishmania with an overall prevalence of co-infection of 1.50% (14/930) varying from 2.82% (12/425) in Tieneguebougou and Bougoudiana to 0.39% (2/505) in Boundioba ( P  = 0.0048). Conclusion This study established the existence of co-endemicity of filarial and Leishmania infections in specific regions of Mali. Since both filarial and Leishmania infections are vector-borne with mosquitoes and sand flies as respective vectors, an integrated vector control approach should be considered in co-endemic areas. The effect of potential interaction between filarial and Leishmania parasites on the disease outcomes may be further studied.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,BMC
• Subject: antigens / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Co-endemicity / cross-sectional studies / delayed hypersensitivity / Diagnosis / Economic aspects / Entomology / Filariae / filariasis / immunoaffinity chromatography / Infectious Diseases / Leishmania major / Leishmaniasis / Leishmania major / Mali / Mansonella / Mansonella perstans / mixed infection / Observational studies / Parasitology / public health / Risk factors / sand / savannas / Skin tests / South Sudan / Sudan / Surveys / Tropical Medicine / vector control / Vector-borne diseases / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / villages / Virology / Wuchereria bancrofti / Wuchereria bancrofti