Case Report: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis—A Hidden Disease in Côte d’Ivoire

Almamy Diabaté Department of Dermatology, Université Alassane Ouattara, Service de Dermatologie CHU de Bouaké-Côte d’Ivoire, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire;

Search for other papers by Almamy Diabaté in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ryo Fukaura Department of Dermatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan;

Search for other papers by Ryo Fukaura in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Chiaki Terashima-Murase Department of Dermatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan;

Search for other papers by Chiaki Terashima-Murase in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Bamba Vagamon Department of Dermatology, Université Alassane Ouattara, Service de Dermatologie CHU de Bouaké-Côte d’Ivoire, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire;

Search for other papers by Bamba Vagamon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Rie R. Yotsu Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana;
School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan;
Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Search for other papers by Rie R. Yotsu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

ABSTRACT.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is classified as one of the skin-related neglected tropical diseases by the WHO. There have been limited reports of CL in Côte d’Ivoire, with fewer than 20 cases reported from Côte d’Ivoire in the literature since 1967, when it was first identified. Here, we report a case of CL originating in Côte d’Ivoire that we diagnosed during our active case finding activity in the Zounan Hounien District. The patient, a 15-year-old male, presented with multiple noninflammatory skin lesions on the face and trunk that had progressed from nodular to ulcerated lesions over the previous 3 months. Concurrent symptoms included fever, chest pain, cough, and malaise. Investigations for infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis returned negative results. Histopathological analysis of a skin biopsy specimen from the nasal base demonstrated the presence of Leishman-Donovan bodies, confirming a diagnosis of CL. Although treatment with intralesional meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) injections was intended, the drug could not be administered because the patient unfortunately died shortly after our consultation visit. Because of the rarity of CL in Côte d’Ivoire, awareness remains low, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Urgent strategies to improve awareness of CL among clinicians practicing in Côte d’Ivoire is required, first to appropriately diagnose and treat CL and second to generate epidemiological data of adequate quality.

Author Notes

Disclosure: The patient in this case report and his guardian gave full written consent for publication of the case details.

Current contact information: Almamy Diabaté and Bamba Vagamon, Department of Dermatology, Université Alassane Ouattara, Service de Dermatologie CHU de Bouaké-Côte d’Ivoire, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, E-mails: docalmamy@yahoo.fr and bambavagamon@yahoo.com. Ryo Fukaura and Chiaki Terashima-Murase, Department of Dermatology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, E-mails: fukaura-ryo@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp and chakkilucky@gmail.com. Rie R. Yotsu, Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan; and Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, E-mail: ryotsu@tulane.edu.

Address correspondence to Rie R. Yotsu, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70112. E-mail: ryotsu@tulane.edu
  • 1.

    World Health Organization , 2023. Leishmaniasis. Available at: https://apps.who.int/neglected_diseases/ntddata/leishmaniasis/leishmaniasis.html. Accessed May 6, 2023.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 2.

    Yotsu RR , Fuller LC , Murdoch ME , van Brakel WH , Revankar C , Barogui MYT , Postigo JAR , Dagne DA , Asiedu K , Hay RJ , 2023. A global call for action to tackle skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs) through integration: An ambitious step change. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 17: e0011357.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Yotsu RR et al., 2018. Skin disease prevalence study in schoolchildren in rural Côte d’Ivoire: Implications for integration of neglected skin diseases (skin NTDs). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 12: e0006489.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4.

    Kone AK , Niaré DS , Piarroux M , Izri A , Marty P , Laurens MB , Piarroux R , Thera MA , Doumbo OK , 2019. Visceral leishmaniasis in West Africa: Clinical characteristics, vectors, and reservoirs. J Parasitol Res 2019: 9282690.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 5.

    Hérouin P , Orio L , 1967. Première observation de la leishmaniose cutanée en Côte-d’Ivoire. Rev Med Côte d’Ivoire 3: 82.

  • 6.

    Ouhon J , Assoumou A , Bleulaine S , Piguel M , Aka P , Ferly-Therizol M , Assale G , 1984. A propos de 3 cas de leishmaniose cutanée humaine diagnostiqués au laboratoire de parasitologie (CHU de Cocody-Abidjan). Rev Med Côte d’Ivoire 18: 3237.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7.

    Nadège A , Vincent D , Frédéric A , Arnaud A , Armel A , Patrice A , Berté D , Dieudonné T , Dramane K , Grégoire Y , 2020. Diversite phlebotomienne dans trois villages de la Commune de Bouake (Côte d’Ivoire) durant la periode de Mars a Juin 2019. Eur Sci J 16: 224240.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8.

    Aka N , Dou G , Zika K , Coulibaly F , Ehouman M , Kone I , Adoubryn K , 2021. A case report of an imported cutaneous leishmaniasis in Cote d’Ivoire. Int Schol J 8: 17.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    Aka N , Zika K , Dou G , Coulibaly F , Ehouman M , Kone I , Adoubryn K , 2021. Pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis in a private clinic of Abidjan, Ivory Coast: A case report. Open Parasitol J 9: 14.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10.

    Yotsu RR , Itoh S , Yao KA , Kouadio K , Ugai K , Koffi Y , Almamy D , Vagamon B , Blanton R , 2022. The early detection and case management of skin diseases with an mHealth app (eSkinHealth): Protocol for a mixed methods pilot study in Côte d’Ivoire. JMIR Res Protoc 11: e39867.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11.

    Kweku MA et al., 2011. An outbreak of suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana: Lessons learnt and preparation for future outbreaks. Glob Health Action 2011: 4.

  • 12.

    Yotsu RR , Fuller LC , Murdoch ME , Revankar C , Barogui Y , Pemmaraju V , Ruiz-Postigo J , Dagne D , Asiedu K , Hay R , 2023. World Health Organization strategic framework for integrated control and management of skin-related neglected tropical diseases: What does this mean for dermatologists? Br J Dermatol 188: 157159.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13.

    McIlwee BE , Weis SE , Hosler GA , 2018. Incidence of endemic human cutaneous leishmaniasis in the United States. JAMA Dermatol 154: 10321039.

Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1759 1759 220
Full Text Views 73 73 15
PDF Downloads 75 75 16
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save