Al-Ashwal MA, Atroosh WM, Al-Adhroey AH, Al-Subbary AA, Yee-Ling L, Al-Mekhlafi HM. A disfiguring neglected tropical disease sweeps war-torn Yemen: a community-based study of prevalence and risk factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis among rural communities in the western highlands.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2023;
117:823-838. [PMID:
37486252 DOI:
10.1093/trstmh/trad044]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major health problem in Yemen and is endemic in many rural areas across the country.
METHODS
A community-based cross-sectional survey followed by unmatched case-control comparisons was conducted among 612 participants in Utmah district, western Yemen. A total of 223 participants were included in the case-control analysis to identify the significant risk factors. Skin scrapping samples were examined by microscopy and internal transcribed spacer 1 nested polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
Overall, 33% (202/612) of the participants had active skin lesions and/or scars that met the clinical criteria for CL. A total of 90 (14.7%) participants had suspected active CL lesions; however, a prevalence of 8.7% (53/612) was obtained based on molecular and parasitological examination, with Leishmania tropica being the only causative agent identified. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that being ≤10 y old, being female, living in houses with cracked walls, living in the presence of other family members with typical ulcerating skin diseases and sleeping outside were factors significantly associated with an increased likelihood of having CL. Moreover, keeping livestock on the ground floor of the house was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of having CL.
CONCLUSION
The study reveals an alarmingly high prevalence of CL among the studied population. Therefore there is an urgent need for effective control measures and improved treatment efforts against this devastating disease.
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