Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) (L. major) has been documented in soldiers of the Multinational Force in the Sinai as well as in visitors to the area. However, little is known about the prevalence of this disease in the local populations. We identified 2 villages in northeastern Sinai near the infected camps of the Multinational Force and, in a population-based study, measured the prevalence of CL.
Populations studied included residents in 2 towns as well as a Bedouin family living on the village periphery. Leishmanial parasites were identified from smears taken from cutaneous lesions. Three of 90 residents in I village and 3 of 8 Bedouins had CL. None of 43 residents examined in the second town had CL. Two of 6 individuals had multiple lesions, and at least I had recurring ulcers. Five of the 6 affected individuals were males and the 6 represented all age groups. The 6 infected individuals came from 3 families. Infected individuals had traveled outside of the village more frequently than uninfected individuals, suggesting that transmission was more common outside of residential areas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BassiliW.R., MorsyT.A. and MichaelS.A. (1983): Specificity and sensitivity of indirect haemagglutination in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. -J. Egypt. Soc. Parasitol., 13: 291–295.
BiengleU., EbertF. and DietrichM. (1978): Cutaneous leishmaniasis in eastern Saudi Arabia. Epidemiological and clinical features in a non immune population living in an endemic area. -Tropenmed. Parasitol., 29: 188–193.
KatzenellenbogenI. and ConfinoR. (1964): A new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Negev (Yotuata). - Harefuah, 67: 41–45.
Killick-KendrickR., BrycesonA.D.M., PetersW., EvansD.A., LeaneyA.J. and RiouxJ-A. (1985): Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia: lesions healing naturally in man followed by a second infection with the same zymodeme of Leishmania major. - Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 79: 363–365.
Mansour N.S., Yousse f F.G., Mohareb E.W., Decs W.H. and Karuhu E.R. (1985): Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Northern Sinai. In Proceedings of the International Congress on Infectious Diseases, Cairo, Egypt. p. 71.
MorsyT.A. (1975): Oriental sore in Riyadh, Saudia Aradia. - Cast. Tropen. Dermatol., 3: 155–157.
MorsyT.A., MusallamR.A.Z., ElShabrawyM.N. and HassanH.I. (1982): Parasitic infection in Ismailiya governorate, Egypt. - J. Egypt. Soc. Parasitol., 25: 209–216.
SchleinY., WarburgA., SchnurL.F. and GundersA.E. (1982): Leishmaniasis in the Jordan Valley II. Sandflies and transmission in the central endemic area. - Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 76: 582–586.
SchleinY., WarburgA., SchnurL.F., LeBlancS.M. and GundersA.E. (1984): Leishmaniasis in Israel: reservoir host sandfly vectors and leishmanial strains in the Negev, Central Arava, and along the Dead Sea. - Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 78: 480–484.
SebaiF.A. and MorsyT.A. (1976): Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Bisha town, Saudi Arabia. - Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 79: 89–91.
WeigleK.A., DeDavalosM., HerediaP., MolinerosR., SaraviaN.G., D'AlessandroA. (1987): Diagnosis of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Columbia: A comparison of seven methods. - Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 36: 489–496.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Faris, R., Feinsod, F.M., Morsy, T.A. et al. Human cutaneous leishmaniasis in two communities in eastern Sinai, Egypt. Eur J Epidemiol 4, 45–48 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152691
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152691