Clinical, Parasitological and Molecular Profiles of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and its Associated Factors among Clinically Suspected Patients Attending Borumeda Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

Habtye Bisetegn^1*, Endalamaw Gadisa², Demekech Damte², Ayalew Jejaw Zeleke³, Abebe Genetu Bayih^{2, 3}

*Corresponding author

¹College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University North East Ethiopia

²Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

³Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most neglected, yet the increasing public health importance in Ethiopia with over 28 million people living at risk.

Method: Cross sectional study was conducted among leishmaniasis suspected patients attending Borumeda Hospital from February to May 2019. Socio demographic characteristics were collected using questionnaires. Parasitological investigation was done on skin slit specimen using Geimsa stain. Species identification was done by PCR RFLP. Data were entered into and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. P-value of ≤ 0.05 considered as statistically significant.

Result: Out of the 205 participants included in this study, 59% were male with mean (+SD) age of 31.9 (+14.29) with the age range of 2 to 73 years old. The overall prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was 22.4% (46/205). The prevalence in males (13.7%) is higher than females (8.8%). It is almost more prevalent in 16-45 age group (15.6%). Head and face were the common sites of lesion (59%). Majority of the participants had single lesion (60%) with 1.55 average number of lesion and most of the lesions were 6-12 months old (52%). House near to farmland, presence of hyrax in the village and presence of other CL cases in the neighborhood were independent predicator of smear positivity. L.aethopica was found to be the sole etiologic agent of CL in the study participants.

Conclusion: The prevalence of CL was high in the study area and statistically associated with house near to farm land, presence of other CL cases in the neighborhood and presence of hyrax in village. Head and face were the usual sites of lesion.

Key word: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Leishmaniasis, Clinical Profile, Ethiopia.