Visceral Leishmaniasis Eradication is a Reality: Data from a Community-based Active Surveillance in Bangladesh

Farhana Ferdousi; Mohammad S. Alam; Mohammad S. Hossain; Enbo Ma; Makoto Itoh; Dinesh Mondal; Rashidul Haque; Yukiko Wagatsuma

doi:10.2149/tmh.2012-25

Original articles

Visceral Leishmaniasis Eradication is a Reality: Data from a Community-based Active Surveillance in Bangladesh

Farhana Ferdousi, Mohammad S. Alam, Mohammad S. Hossain, Enbo Ma, Makoto Itoh, Dinesh Mondal, Rashidul Haque, Yukiko Wagatsuma

Author information

Farhana Ferdousi
Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
Mohammad S. Alam
Parasitology Laboratory, Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Mohammad S. Hossain
Parasitology Laboratory, Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Enbo Ma
Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba
Makoto Itoh
Department of Infection and Immunology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine
Dinesh Mondal
Parasitology Laboratory, Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Rashidul Haque
Parasitology Laboratory, Laboratory Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Yukiko Wagatsuma
Department of Clinical Trial and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba

Keywords: visceral leishmaniasis, active surveillance, rK39 dipstick test, risk factors, Bangladesh

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2012 Volume 40 Issue 4 Pages 133-139

DOI https://ntrd-jsjc-gov-cn-s-1416.res.gxlib.org.cn:443/rwt/1416/https/MSYXTLUQPJUB/10.2149/tmh.2012-25

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Abstract

More than 20 million people in Bangladesh are considered at risk of developing visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A community-based active surveillance was conducted in eight randomly selected villages in a highly endemic area of Bangladesh from 2006 to 2008. A total of 6,761 individuals living in 1,550 mud-walled houses were included in the active surveillance. Rapid rK39 dipstick tests were conducted throughout the study period to facilitate the case diagnosis. Individuals with previous or current clinical leishmaniasis were identified on the basis of the case definition of the VL elimination program. Untreated cases of suspected VL were referred to the hospital for treatment. Socioeconomic and environmental information including bed net use was also collected. In 2006, the annual incidence of clinical leishmaniasis in the study area was 141.9 cases per 10,000 population, which was significantly increased by the following year owing to community-based active surveillance for case detection and reporting. However, early case detection and early referral for treatment led to a significant decrease in incidence in 2008. This study suggests that community-based active surveillance using a simple diagnostic tool might play a role in achieving the goal of the VL elimination program.

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