Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T10:58:03.282Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Epidemiology of leishmaniases in Kenya. Advances in research on vectors and animal reservoirs, and possible control measures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Mutuku J. Mutinga
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Get access

Abstract

Three types of human leishmaniases are known to occur in Kenya: visceral leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania donovani, and cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. aethiopica and L. major. Visceral leishmaniasis is the most important of the three in eastern Africa, not only because it is fatal but also because several epidemics have occurred periodically since the disease appeared in the country about 40 years ago resulting in many deaths. L. aethiopica and L. major are chiefly zoonotic and people contract the disease when they wander into areas containing animal reservoirs and infected vectors. Control measures were undertaken against vectors and reservoirs during an epidemic outbreak of kala-azar in Machakos District.

Résumé

Trois types de leishmaniose humain existent au Kenya: la leishmaniose viscérale cuasée par Leishmania donovani et la leishmaniose cutanée causée par L. aethiopia et L. major. Des ces trois formes, la leishmaniose viscérale est la maladie la plus importante en Afrique de l'Est parce que non seulement elle est fatale, mais aussi parce qu'elle a causé plusieurs épidémies périodiques depuis qu'elle s'est infiltrée dans le pays il y a quarante ans environ, provoquant plusieurs décès. L. aethiopia et L. major sont surtout zoonotiques et les gens sont atteints quand ils se baladent dans les régions où il y a des animaux hôtes ou dans cells infestées par les vecteurs.

Les progrès en matière de recherche sur les animaux hôtes et les vecteurs sont présentés et discutés. En plus les mesures de contrôle qui ont été prises lors des épidémies de kala-azar sont présentés. Les moyens possibles de contrôler les épidémies de la maladie sont discutés en se basant sur les résultats de la recherche en cours.

Type
Special Section: Leishmaniasis Epidemiology
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Beach, R. F., Young, D. C. and Mutinga, M. J. (1982) Phlebotomus (P) duboscqi from Kenya. Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 67, 707708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chance, M. L., Schnur, L. F., Thomas, S. C. and Peters, W. (1978) The biochemical and serological taxonomy of Leishmania from Aethiopian zoogeographical region of Africa. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 72, 533542.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heisch, R. B. (1954) Studies in leishmaniasis in East Africa 1. The epidemiology of an outbreak of kala-azar in Kenya. Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 48, 449469.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heisch, R. B. (1955) The vector of an outbreak of kala-azar in Kenya. Nature, Lond. 175, 433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heisch, R. B. (1963) Is there an animal reservoir of kala-azar in Kenya? E. Afr. med. J. 40, 360362.Google ScholarPubMed
Heisch, R. B., Wijers, D. J. B. and Minter, D. M. (1962) In persuit of the vector of kala-azar in Kenya. Br. med. J. 1, 1945. Nature, Lond. 175, 433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jamnadas, H., Ramasamy, R., Shah, J., Mutinga, M. J. and Karr, S. (1983) Surface antigens of Kenyan strains of Leishmania. E. Afr. med. J. 60, 283–241.Google ScholarPubMed
Kungu, A., Mutinga, M. J. and Ngoka, J. M. (1972) Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 49, 459–64.Google ScholarPubMed
Lewis, D. J., Mutinga, M. J. and Ashford, R. W. (1972) Phlebotomus longipes and a new related species. J. Ent. B 41, 119124.Google Scholar
Manson-Bahr, P. E. C., Southgate, B. A. and Harvey, A. E. C. (1963) Development of kala-azar in man after inoculation with Leishmania from a Kenyan sandfly. Br. med. J. 1, 12081210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minter, D. M. (1962) Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) celiae Sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae), a new sandfly from Kenya. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 56, 457461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minter, D. M. (1963) Studies on the vector of kala-azar in Kenya III. Distributional evidence. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 57, 1923.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. (1975a) Phlebotomus fauna in cutaneous leishmaniasis focus of Mt. Elgon, Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 52, 340347.Google ScholarPubMed
Mutinga, M. J. (1975b) The animal reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 52, 142150.Google ScholarPubMed
Mutinga, M. J. (1980) Leishmania vector behaviour in Kenya. Isotope radiation research on animal diseases. IAEA-SM 240/39, pp. 199204.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. (1981) An efficient trap for sandflies (Diptera, Phlebotomidae). Insect Sci. Applic. 1, 203206.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. and Ngoka, J. M. (1970) Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya. J. Parasit. 56, 452453.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. and Ngoka, J. M. (1983) Investigations of animal reservoir or visceral leishmaniasis and the isolation of Leishmania major in Marigat, Baringo District, Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 4, 237240.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J., Ngoka, J. M., Schnur, L. F. and Chance, M. L. (1980) The isolation and identification of leishmanial parasites from domestic dogs in the Machakos District of Kenya, and the possible role of dogs as reservoirs of kala-azar in East Africa.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutinga, M. J., Kaddu, J. B., Arap Siongok, T. K. and Sang, D. (1982) Studies of animal reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 59, 466–150.Google ScholarPubMed
Mutinga, M. J., Ngoka, J. M. and Odhiambo, T. R. (1984) Epidemiological investigations of visceral leishmaniasis in the West Pokot District, Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 5, 521525.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. and Odhiambo, T. R. (1982) Studies on infection rates of human baited anthropophilic sandflies in Machakos District, Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 3, 211214.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J., Kyai, F. M. and Omogo, D. M. (1986) Investigations on the epidemiology of Leishmaniases in Kenya—I. Studies on vector of Leishmania major in Marigat, Baringo District, Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 7, 181189.Google Scholar
Ngoka, J. M. and Mutinga, M. J. (1978a) Visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya. The onset of an epidemic outbreak in the Machakos District of Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 55, 328331.Google ScholarPubMed
Ngoka, J. M. and Mutinga, M. J. (1987b) Visceral leishmaniasis animal reservoir in Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 55, 332336.Google Scholar
Ngoka, J. M., Madel, G. and Mutinga, M. J. (1975) Phlebotomus (Larroussius elgonensis Sp. Nov.) (Diptera: Phlebotomidae) a new sandfly from Kenya. E. Afr. med. J. 52, 132141.Google ScholarPubMed
Ramasamy, M. S., Jamnadass, H. and Mutinga, M. J. (1981) Protein and surface proteins of leishmania promastigotes and their possible relevance to characterization of strains. J. Parasit. II, 387390.Google Scholar
Southgate, B. A. and Oriedo, B. V. E. (1962) Studies on the epidemiology of East African leishmaniasis 1. The circumstancial epidemiology of kala-azar in the Kitui District of Kenya. Trans. R. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 56, 3047.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wijers, D. J. (1963) Studies on the vector of kala-azar in kenya. II Epidemiological evidence. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 47, 718.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wijers, D. J. B. and Minter, D. M. (1962) Studies on the vector of kala-azar in Kenya 1. Entomological evidence. Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 56, 462472.CrossRefGoogle Scholar