Visceral leishmaniasis in Gambela, western Ethiopia

Active case finding, leishmanin skin test and serological surveys of visceral leishmaniasis were carried in selected localities in Gambela, Western Ethiopia, through the years 1989-1993. Active case detection surveys were made among 1456 Sudanese refugees, 646 Ethiopian Nuers and Anuaks, 651 resettlers at Baro-Abol and 165 patients from health centres in Itang. Fugnido and Kermi and Gambela hospital. Leishmanin skin test and sero-epidemiological studies were also conducted. A total of seven cases of visceral leishmaniasis were detected among refugees and none among resettlers, natives or 156 patients attending health centres and a hospital in Gambela. Positive leishmanin rates varied from 34.4% among refugees to 7.6% and 1.7% among Ethiopian Nuers and Anuaks and resettlers, respectively. Seroprevalence rates were also determined to be 18.1%, 7.3% and 8.1% respectively for the above order of study populations. Results are discussed in view of the currently ongoing leishmaniasis epidemic in the Upper Nile Province of the Sudan. The study emphasizes on the potential risk of imported visceral leishmaniasis being established in Western Ethiopia, where the disease is not known to be endemic until now.