The epidemiology of leishmaniases in Lebanon

✍ Scribed by N. Nuwayri-Salti; E. Baydoun; R. El-Tawk; R.Fakhoury Makki; K. Knio

• Book ID: 104165945
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 442 KB
• Volume: 94
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9203
• DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(00)90259-1

✦ Synopsis

The prevalence of leishmaniasis in Lebanon was studied in 1993-97 for a Lebanese population sample of about 81 000 subjects (60% rural and 40% urban) constituting roughly 3.4% of the total population. The prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis was found to be 0.18% in the rural versus 0.4 1% in the urban areas. Visceral leishmaniasis was practically non-existent in both environments. In addition, skin tests were done and anti-leishmaniu antibodies were sought in a sample of the population at risk in the rural area. Skin tests were positive in 25% of the tested subjects, and 1% of the normal population had elevated levels of anti-Leishmaniu antibodies. The difference between the prevalence of clinical disease and positive skin testing and/or antibodies may be due to the existence of past or present subclinical disease. An unexpected finding was that the prevalent dermotropic parasite in Lebanon belongs to the L. donovani complex. Further characterization of the isolates by molecular techniques and definition of the transmission cycle of this parasite may explain our epidemiological findings.