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Visceral leishmaniasis from an area previously not known to be endemic; Dangur, Benshangul-Gumuz, Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia: a case report

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal and growing public health problem in Ethiopia. VL is recently reported outside the major endemic foci, the lowlands in the northwest and the Omo and Abaroba-plain, Segen and Woito valleys in the southwest. Here, we report a VL case from Benshangul-Gumuz regional state near Guba area. The patient had no travel history to known endemic areas; he was a temporary farm laborer from west Gojjam zone, Wanberma district in Amhara regional state. While in Benshangul-Gumuz, he was diagnosed with prolonged and intermittent fever, epistaxis, splenomegaly, skin pallor, diarrhea, cough and Oedema. Laboratory diagnosis results showed that he had marked leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. He was suspected for VL and checked with rK39 immunochromatography and direct agglutination tests which showed positive for anti leishmanial antibodies. After getting full dose of SSG as per the national guideline, he showed clinical cure. The areas being under social and ecological transformations with large scale projects attracting huge influx of temporary laborers and settlers a great attention is needed with respect to introduction or (re)emergence of VL transmission in Benshangul-Gumuz.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Hirpa A A
Guma G T
Demilew A D
Beshah A M
Armide A A
Belachew E G