Demographic and Clinical Features of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Chad: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Survey

Demba Kodindo Israël National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Public Health, N’Djaména, Chad;

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Cheick Amadou Coulibaly Leishmaniasis Unit, International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER-Mali), Faculty of Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali;

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Vourchakbé Joël Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technique, University of Doba, Doba, Chad;

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Betrand Fesuh Nono Laboratory of Mathematical Engineering and Information Systems, Department of Mathematics, National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon;

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Gonnonta Vincent Laboratory Service, Léré District Hospital, Provincial Health Delegation of Mayo Kebbi-Est, Léré, Chad;

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Shaden Kamhawi Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland

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Seydou Doumbia Leishmaniasis Unit, International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER-Mali), Faculty of Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali;

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ABSTRACT.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani complex, is endemic in many parts of the world. Little known in Chad, VL has been recently documented from previously nonendemic areas. We report an epidemiological investigation of VL in the Léré district hospital in southwestern Chad. After informed consent, 40 VL patients were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis made using the formalin serological test was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction on blood samples. Clinical parameters were obtained from the physician or nurse caregiver, and from patients. Of a total of 40 serology positive patients, L. donovani DNA was found in 33 (82.5%), with 55% being male patients. The most affected age groups were 15–29 (47.5%) and 0–14 (32.5%) years. Fever, weight loss, and pallor were frequent symptoms. Notably, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were uncommon clinical signs. Common comorbidities included malaria (25%) and hepatitis B (15%), followed by gastric ulcer (10%) and tuberculosis (7.5%). These comorbidities were concurrent with VL and were diagnosed microscopically in blood and serum for malaria and tuberculosis, respectively, and by the rapid diagnostic test using serum for hepatitis B and gastric ulcer. Thirty-five percent of cases were treated with meglumine antimoniate, and three patients (7.5%), all with comorbidities, died. Sixty percent of patients lived close to the main town. Our data demonstrate that VL is endemic in the health district of Léré. Improving health education regarding L. donovani infection in endemic areas of Chad and providing training of health workers on early detection and management of VL are needed to help save lives.

Author Notes

Financial support: The study was funded by Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), based on financial cooperation between Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany, through KfW (German Development Bank). We thank the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health for its support of the training through grant number D43TW008652.

Disclosures: The present study received ethical clearance from the National Bioethics Committee of Chad (N°173/PR/MESRI/SG/CNBT/2019 of September 19, 2019), and an administrative authorization from the General Directorate of the Ministry of Public Health (N°3695/PR/MSP/DG/DRHF/SDF/SFC/19). Letters of support were also obtained from the Provincial Health Delegation of Mayo Kebbi West and the Health District of Léré. Informed in the language best understood about the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the disease, all patients or caregivers visiting the Léré district hospital who accepted to participate in the study signed an informed consent form before data collection and received the results of their examination. All analyzed data were anonymized.

Current contact information: Demba Kodindo Israël, National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Public Health, N’Djaména, Chad, E-mail: iskodindo@yahoo.fr. Cheick Amadou Coulibaly and Seydou Doumbia, Leishmaniasis Unit, International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER-Mali), Faculty of Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali, E-mails: lasky2008@gmail.com and sdoumbi@gmail.com. Vourchakbé Joël, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technique, University of Doba, Doba, Chad, E-mail: vourchakbejoel@gmail.com. Betrand Fesuh Nono, Laboratory of Mathematical Engineering and Information Systems, Department of Mathematics, National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun, E-mail: fesuhbe@yahoo.co.uk. Gonnonta Vincent, Laboratory Service, Léré District Hospital, Provincial Health Delegation of Mayo Kebbi-Est, Léré, Chad, E-mail: vincentsahoulba@gmail.com. Shaden Kamhawi, Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, E-mail: skamhawi@niaid.nih.gov.

Address correspondence to Seydou Doumbia, Leishmaniasis Unit, International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER-Mali), Faculty of Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology, University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, P.O. Box 1805 Bamako, Mali. E-mail: sdoumbi@gmail.com
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