Detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three communities of Oti Region, Ghana.

Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected Leishmania parasites among persons with skin ulcers. Methodology/principal findings Usi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Main Authors: Richard Akuffo, Carmen Sanchez, Carmen Chicharro, Eugenia Carrillo, Naiki Attram, Mba-Tihssommah Mosore, Clara Yeboah, Nana Konama Kotey, Daniel Boakye, Jose-Antonio Ruiz-Postigo, Javier Moreno, Michael Wilson, Bismark Sarfo, Francis Anto
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021
Subjects:
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009416
https://doaj.org/article/68a9fc3190914e7b99a4ae56d0bb9e99
Description
Summary:Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected Leishmania parasites among persons with skin ulcers. Methodology/principal findings Using a cross-sectional study design, the prevalence of CL in three communities of the Oti Region of Ghana was investigated. Demographic and epidemiological data were obtained by a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 426 (12.4%) out of 3,440 participants screened had at least one skin ulcer. Of 595 skin ulcers sampled and tested by PCR for Leishmania infection, 150 (25.2%) ulcers from 136 individuals tested positive, accounting for an overall CL prevalence of 31.9% among persons with skin ulcers. Individual community CL prevalence of 23.2%, 29.8%, and 36.8% was observed in Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop respectively among persons with skin ulcers. Conclusions/significance Confirmation of CL in the study area suggests an active cycle of transmission of Leishmania infection. The observation of skin ulcers which tested negative to Leishmania infection suggests a need to test for additional causes of skin ulcers such as Treponema pallidum pertenue and Mycobacterium ulcerans in the study area.

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