Leishmaniasis in northern and western Africa: a review
| dc.contributor.author | Kimutai, Albert | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ngure, Peter Kamau | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tonui, Willy K. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Gicheru, Michael Muita | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nyamwamu, Lydia Bonareri | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-05-08T12:49:45Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-05-08T12:49:45Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Leishmaniasis, one of the highly neglected diseases is currently a significant health problem in northern Africa with a rising concern in western Africa because of co-infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In this review, we present a summarized analysis of the epidemiology, infective species, parasites reservoirs, diagnosis, treatment and control measures of leishmaniasis in northern and western Africa region. In northern Africa, the disease is prevalent in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Comparatively, there are low prevalence rates of the disease in West African countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal. In North Africa, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by L. infantum and transmitted by Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. longicuspis. On the other hand, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is mainly caused by L. major and transmitted by P. papatasi, P. duboscqi and P. pedifer with L. infantum and L. tropica causing lower incidences of the disease. Notably, Algeria is one of the countries that constitute 90% of CL cases worldwide. In Western Africa; CL is caused by L. major while VL is caused by L. donovani. In these regions, zoonotic and anthroponotic cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis is a health problem that should be addressed urgently. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University, Department of Zoological Sciences, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya. Daystar University, Science Department, P.O. BOX 44400-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. BOX 54840, Nairobi, Kenya. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2006-0165 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4545 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Afr. J. Infect. Dis. | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Afr. J. Infect. Dis. (2009) 3(1): 14 - 25 | |
| dc.subject | Leishmaniasis | |
| dc.subject | cutaneous leishmaniasis | |
| dc.subject | visceral leishmaniasis | |
| dc.title | Leishmaniasis in northern and western Africa: a review | |
| dc.type | Article |