LEISHMANIASIS IN THE MIDDLE COURSE OF THE ETHIOPIAN RIFT-VALLEY - I -CLINICAL AND LEISHMANIN SKIN-TEST SURVEYS

A clinico-epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and vi sceral leishmaniasis (VL) was undertaken involving 1,809 residents of ten representative villages from Zeway-Langano, Wajifo-Mirab-Abaya and Blate-Dimtu areas in the middle course of the Ethiopian Rift Valley f rom November 1994 to June 1996. Community prevalence of positive leish manin skin test (LST) was very low ranging from 5% in Olge village to 0% in Kello-Langano area. Sera collected from 57 clinical VL suspects originating from the different villages tested negative for anti-leish manial antibodies. The rate of splenomegaly ranged from 5% in Kello-La ngano area to as high as 80% in Korga village. Furthermore, the freque ncy and size of splenomegaly was related to the reported past and rece nt history of attack(s) of malaria. The low community prevalence of LS T suggests minimal transmission of leishmania infections in spite of t he knowledge of the presence of the sandfly vectors of CL and VL in th e area. However, with increasing villagization and agricultural develo pment activities, the potential risk for the establishment of VL and/o r CL as endemic diseases can not be excluded.