Journal Article

Identifying asymptomatic Leishmania infections in non-endemic villages in Gedaref state, Sudan

Siddig, Emmanuel Edwar, Mohammed, Anwar O., Elaagip, Arwa H., Omer, Rihab A., Muneer, Mohamed S., Osman, Hussam A., Abdel Hamid, Muzamil M., Ali, Mohamed Siralkhatim, Ahmed, Ayman, Mohamed, Nouh Saad, Samy, Abdallah M.

2019

Overview

Objectives Infection with the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) may be either symptomatic or asymptomatic. In this study we aimed at investigating the prevalence of asymptomatic infections of leishmania in non-endemic villages in Gedaref state, Sudan. A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted during September and October 2014. Blood samples were collected for serological and molecular analysis. Sticky-traps, knockdown spray and CDC-miniature light traps were used for the collection of sandflies. Results Ninety-Five participants were included; 52 from Abukishma, 15 Algadamblia Tirfa, 25 Abualnaja and 3 were from Algadamblia Aljabal. Females constituted 56 (58.9%) of the study participants while males were 39 (41.1%). The most frequent age group was > 40-years (54.7%). Balanites/Acacia trees were the most planted tree inside the houses; 78 (82.1%). Also, 85 (89.5%) of the participants breed animals inside the house. DAT test revealed 5 positive participants (5.2%). 4/5 DAT positive were past VL infection. PCR detected 35 (36.8%) positive participants. A total of 31/35 was considered asymptomatic infections based on PCR. Households planted Balanites / Acacia trees or breed domestic animals were found in high percentages with L. donovani PCR positive participants (60.1%, 91.4%). No statistically significant was found for VL associated risk factors and VL asymptomatic participants.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Acacia / Acacia - parasitology / Adult / Animals / Antigens / Asymptomatic infection / Asymptomatic Infections - epidemiology / Balanites / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographic aspects / Deoxyribonucleic acid / Diagnosis / DNA / DNA, Protozoan - genetics / Domestic animals / EDTA / Female / Gedaref state / Geography / Households / Houses / Humans / Infection / Infections / Laboratories / Leishmania donovani - genetics / Leishmania donovani - physiology / Leishmaniasis / Leishmaniasis, Visceral - blood / Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology / Leishmaniasis, Visceral - parasitology / Life Sciences / Light traps / Male / Medical research / Medicine/Public Health / Morphology / Non-endemic villages / Parasites / Parasitic diseases / Phlebotomus - parasitology / Plasma / Polymerase Chain Reaction / Prevalence / Prevalence studies (Epidemiology) / Research Note / Risk factors / Statistical analysis / Sudan / Sudan - epidemiology / Trees / Tropical diseases / Visceral leishmaniasis