LEISHMANIASIS IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN AFRICA: A REVIEW

Authors

  • Kimutai Albert
  • Ngure Peter Kamau
  • Tonui Willy Kiprotich
  • Gicheru Michael Muita
  • Nyamwamu Lydia Bonareri

Keywords:

Leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis

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

Author Biographies

Kimutai Albert

Kenyatta University, Department of Zoological Sciences

Ngure Peter Kamau

Lecturer, Department of Sciences, Daystar University

Tonui Willy Kiprotich

Senior Research, Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)

Gicheru Michael Muita

Senior Lecturer, Immunology Head Coordinator and Head of examinations, Department of Zoological Sciences Kenyatta University

Nyamwamu Lydia Bonareri

Department of Zoological Sciences, Kenyatta University

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Published

2009-02-19

How to Cite

Albert, K., Kamau, N. P., Kiprotich, T. W., Muita, G. M., & Bonareri, N. L. (2009). LEISHMANIASIS IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN AFRICA: A REVIEW. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 3(1), 26–30. Retrieved from https://athmsi.org/journals/index.php/AJID/article/view/523

Issue

Section

Review