Unveiling risk factors and sandfly ecology in cutaneous leishmaniasis-endemic areas of the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

IF 4 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2025-07-21 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102910

Yasser Alraey , Abdulaziz Alshahrani , Thunan Saad M. Alshahrani , Nasser Hassan Awdah Al Draim , Abdulqader A. Sumayli , Abdullah M. Mana , Abdulrahman Abdullah Alqahtani , Mohammed Saad AlAbdullah , Abdulmajeed M. Mjrashi , Saeed j Alqhtani , Waleed S. Al Salem

{"title":"Unveiling risk factors and sandfly ecology in cutaneous leishmaniasis-endemic areas of the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia","authors":"Yasser Alraey , Abdulaziz Alshahrani , Thunan Saad M. Alshahrani , Nasser Hassan Awdah Al Draim , Abdulqader A. Sumayli , Abdullah M. Mana , Abdulrahman Abdullah Alqahtani , Mohammed Saad AlAbdullah , Abdulmajeed M. Mjrashi , Saeed j Alqhtani , Waleed S. Al Salem","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102910","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a significant public health challenge in the Asir region of southwest Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with CL transmission through a case-control questionnaire and to investigate the local sandfly population as potential vectors.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>From June to December 2022, sandflies were collected using paper traps from four CL-endemic locations: Khamis Mushait, Belhamr, Mahayel, and Rijal Almaa. Collected specimens were taxonomically identified. Concurrently, between 2022 and 2023, a validated questionnaire was administered to confirmed CL cases and matched controls without prior CL history. The questionnaire assessed demographic data, lesion characteristics, medical history, housing conditions, animal exposure, and use of protective measures. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and English, with translation support as needed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 713 sandflies were captured, including 453 males and 260 females. Khamis Mushait showed the highest vector abundance. Two sandfly genera, <em>Phlebotomus</em> and <em>Sergentomyia</em>, were identified. Among six Phlebotomus species, <em>Ph. bergeroti</em> and <em>Ph. sergenti</em> were the most prevalent. Questionnaire analysis revealed that men and married individuals were more frequently affected. Risk factors included outdoor activity, poor housing infrastructure, and proximity to livestock and gardens. In contrast, waste areas showed no significant association, and the use of insecticides and public health awareness were correlated with reduced infection risk.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights key environmental, entomological, and behavioral factors influencing the Asir region's cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission<em>. Ph. bergeroti</em> and <em>Ph. sergenti</em> were the most abundant species, with <em>Ph. bergeroti</em> showing potential as a permissive vector, warranting further investigation. The findings suggest the possibility of a zoonotic transmission cycle in an area traditionally considered non-zoonotic for <em>Leishmania tropica</em>, emphasizing the need for integrated control and public health strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"18 11","pages":"Article 102910"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187603412500259X","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a significant public health challenge in the Asir region of southwest Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with CL transmission through a case-control questionnaire and to investigate the local sandfly population as potential vectors.

Method

From June to December 2022, sandflies were collected using paper traps from four CL-endemic locations: Khamis Mushait, Belhamr, Mahayel, and Rijal Almaa. Collected specimens were taxonomically identified. Concurrently, between 2022 and 2023, a validated questionnaire was administered to confirmed CL cases and matched controls without prior CL history. The questionnaire assessed demographic data, lesion characteristics, medical history, housing conditions, animal exposure, and use of protective measures. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and English, with translation support as needed.

Results

A total of 713 sandflies were captured, including 453 males and 260 females. Khamis Mushait showed the highest vector abundance. Two sandfly genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, were identified. Among six Phlebotomus species, Ph. bergeroti and Ph. sergenti were the most prevalent. Questionnaire analysis revealed that men and married individuals were more frequently affected. Risk factors included outdoor activity, poor housing infrastructure, and proximity to livestock and gardens. In contrast, waste areas showed no significant association, and the use of insecticides and public health awareness were correlated with reduced infection risk.

Conclusions

This study highlights key environmental, entomological, and behavioral factors influencing the Asir region's cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission. Ph. bergeroti and Ph. sergenti were the most abundant species, with Ph. bergeroti showing potential as a permissive vector, warranting further investigation. The findings suggest the possibility of a zoonotic transmission cycle in an area traditionally considered non-zoonotic for Leishmania tropica, emphasizing the need for integrated control and public health strategies.

查看原文本刊更多论文

揭示沙特阿拉伯阿西尔地区皮肤利什曼病流行地区的危险因素和白蛉生态

背景皮肤利什曼病（CL）仍然是沙特阿拉伯西南部阿西尔地区的一个重大公共卫生挑战。本研究旨在通过病例对照问卷调查确定与CL传播相关的危险因素，并调查当地白蛉种群作为潜在媒介的情况。方法2022年6 - 12月，在Khamis Mushait、Belhamr、Mahayel和Rijal Almaa 4个cl流行点采用捕蝇法采集白蛉。采集标本进行分类鉴定。同时，在2022年至2023年期间，对确诊的CL病例和没有CL病史的匹配对照进行了有效的问卷调查。调查问卷评估了人口统计数据、病变特征、病史、住房条件、动物暴露和防护措施的使用情况。访谈以阿拉伯文和英文进行，并视需要提供翻译支助。结果共捕获白蛉713只，其中雄白蛉453只，雌白蛉260只。Khamis Mushait表现出最高的媒介丰度。鉴定出白蛉属和白蛉属。6种白蛉中以伯格氏和瑟艮蒂最为常见。调查问卷分析显示，男性和已婚人士更容易受到影响。危险因素包括户外活动、住房基础设施差、靠近牲畜和花园。相比之下，废物地区没有显示出显著关联，杀虫剂的使用和公众卫生意识与感染风险降低相关。结论本研究揭示了影响阿西尔地区皮肤利什曼病（CL）传播的环境、昆虫学和行为因素。其中，伯格氏菌和瑟正蒂菌数量最多，伯格氏菌表现出作为许可媒介的潜力，值得进一步研究。研究结果表明，在传统上被认为热带利什曼原虫非人畜共患地区可能存在人畜共患传播周期，强调需要采取综合控制和公共卫生战略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.