LEISHMANIA RESERVOIRS AND SANDFLY VECTORS : DANGERS IN CAVES

Abstract

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis occurs in the Highlands of Ethiopia and arid and semi arid regions of Kenya and Uganda, where increased human-fly contact occurs in villages built on rocky hills or river banks, which are the natural habitats of sand flies and hyraxes. Human cases of this disease have been reported in Mt. Elgon region (Mutinga 1975a) although no comprehensive study has been done to reveal its current prevalence, distribution, vector(s) and reservoir(s)status. Conclusion BACKGROUND INFORMATION Information from the residents of Mt. Elgon reveals that Hyraxes, rats, Porcupines and bats are found in caves. Sand flies have also been found to breed in the caves. Itis estimated that the populations of the already implicated Leishmania reservoir hosts in this focus are currently too low due to loss of suitable habitats to maintain continuity of Leishmania transmission. Therefore the current reservoir(s) of the Leishmania species responsible for the maintenance of human cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Mt. Elgon focus are still unknown. Thus, this study investigated the role of bats and other animals found in the proximity of the caves in the maintenace and transmissionofthe Leishmania parasite in the region.