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Review
. 2022 Sep;22(3):640-647.
doi: 10.4314/ahs.v22i3.68.

Leishmaniasis prevalence, awareness and control in Saudi Arabia

Taha A Kumosani  1   2   3 , Turkyah J Al-Bogami  1 , Elie K Barbour  2 , Sharifah H Alshehri  1 , Soonham S Yaghmoor  2 , Nouf A Alshareef  1 , Khalid M El-Say  4   5 , Said S Moselhy  1
Affiliations
Review

Leishmaniasis prevalence, awareness and control in Saudi Arabia

Taha A Kumosani et al. Afr Health Sci. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis is a widespread skin protozoan infectious disease. It is an intracellular parasitic microorganism that develops in the body of infected female phlebotomine sandflies vector, prior to its transmission to human or animal host by the vector bite. The objective of this review is to highlight the current prevalence of Leishmaniasis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the direction in research for its control.

Materials: The update literature covered The infection of the host with this trypanosome starts with a skin bite from the infected sand fly, followed by penetration of the parasite into cellular structures of the skin, or its infiltration to the circulatory system, targeting the internal organs. Different research groups are experimenting on construction of recombinant Leishmania antigens, compiled from this protozoa and from antigens recovered from the saliva of sand flies, in an attempt to immunize the host for protection against this disease.

Conclusion: The benefits behind such a review is to support the personnel involved in developing evidence-based policy guidelines, strategies and standards for disease prevention and management of their implementation; in addition, it provided a technical support to member states to collaborate on establishment of an effective systems to handle the Leishmaniasis.

Keywords: Leishmaniasis prevalence; Review; Saudi Arabia; control.

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Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends of Visceral Leishmaniasis and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in different regions of Saudi Arabia
Figure 1
Figure 1
Maps of Visceral Leishmaniasis and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in different regions of Saudi Arabia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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