Demographical and population dynamics impact on public health of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawra, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: A cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Madinah Almonawra in KSA held during the period from March 2014-March 2015. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed at analyzing the effect of population dynamics on the current situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawarah area, a holy city that attracts millions of muslims annually.
METHODOLOGY: Epidemiological and clinical data were collected by especial questionnaire and laboratory specimens were collected using skin scraping and needle aspiration. Staining and direct microscopy were done. LST was conducted. Analysis was done using SPSS program.
RESULTS: The study included 164 patients, all of them were men. Saudi nationality comprised around 20% of the study group, the majority were Egyptians, 26.2%, followed by Pakistani, 21.3%.
CONCLUSION: The presence of non-Saudi nationality as foreign workers, immigrants and refugees has worsened the current situation of the disease.

Introduction

Leishmania is a flagellate parasite that causes a wide range of clinical diseases. The parasite is an intracellular pathogen with two forms of life cycles, one inside the vector (Female sandfly) of variable species depending on geographical distribution and the other life cycle inside the host (human and animals). Some form of leishmaniasis need a reservoir mostly an animal. The pathogenic complexes to man include: L. major: mainly causes Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( ZCL) and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis ( MCL ) of the Old World. L. aethiopica: mainly causes Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( ZCL) and Diffused Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( DCL) of the Eastern Africa. L. tropica: mainly causes Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL ) of the Old World. L. Donovani: mainly causes Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL ), Mucocutaneous Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( MCL ) and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL. Leishmaniasis is prevalent on four continents and is considered endemic in 88 countries, mainly in developing countries. The worldwide prevalence of the disease is estimated at 12 million cases, with 500,000 new cases per year for visceral forms and of 1–1.5 million for the cutaneous forms. Over 90% of cases occur in the region Middle East and North Africa Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Ethiopia and Sudan )1.

Leishmaniasis is a travelling disease and one of the major diseases associated with people travelling and migration mainly as refugees. This is due to the presence of disease triangle (host, parasite and suitable environment). Sometimes the disease recurs after long dissertation of certain previously known endemic area. This can be explained by the continuos lifecycle of the parasite between the sandfly and the local available animals. A study conducted by Abdalla et al., 2010 in The Green Valley Village, Nuba Mountain in Sudan, which was known to be a highly endemic focus of leishmania that led the villagers to desert it for more than 20 years and the area was known to them as Marad Alsayeed as local terminology. The study revealed the recurrence of the disease among the returned villagers2.

The ulcers caused by parasites of the subgenus L. ethiopeca (Ethiopea), L. infantum (Tunisia) L. major (Saudi Arabia and Sudan) are less severe and likely to cure spontaneously or after treatment3.

In a recent retrospective study of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases from 1965 to 2002, there were 1,862 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Aramco health care centre. The disease is more prevalent in the Al-Hasa Oasis (Eastern of Saudi Arabia) and affects males and female equally. Cutaneous leishmaniasis follows a seasonal distribution in parallel with the known activity of the sandfly. The majority (76%) of cases occurred in patient <15 years of age and the disease affected the extremities more frequently than face. Seventy-one percent of patients presented with a single lesion and 27% presented with two lesions. Ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis was the predominant morphology (89%).

The seasonal distribution of reported cases increased in September, remained high in the following months, and reached its peak in January and February. The number of patients began to decline in March and reached its lowest number between April and July.

Simple cutaneous Leishmaniasis (oriental sore), is a skin involvement of Leishmania parasite in which the amastigote multiplication is restricted to skin macrophages. The disease is caused by species Leishmania tropica complex in the Old World. The disease starts as a red papule at the site of sandfly inoculation of promastigotes, this eventually ulcerates, become crusted and then heals leaving a depressed scar. Incubation period ranges from 2 weeks to several months. Spontaneous healing of lesions usually occurs within 2 months to a year. Lesions of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis are nodular, nodulo-ulcerative or diffuse.

Heavy lymphocytic infiltrate, giant cells and rare epithelial and histolytic elements characterize these lesions. Leishmaniasis recidiva and Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (DCL) are non self-healing chronic forms of the disease. The geographic distribution of cutaneous leishmaniasis is mainly determined by the sandfly vectors (Phlebotomus spp.) in Saudi Arabia4. However, L. donovani was isolated from a cutaneous lesion in a tourist from Southern France who visited Yemen for two weeks5. Similarly documented in Nuba Mountain study6. The predominance of L. tropica as a causative agent of CL has been reported from Saudi Arabia.

Leishmania tropica is commonly stated to be anthroponotic, although zoonotic transmission has been reported from Saudi Arabia7.

This study was conducted in Al Madinah Almonowra, to determine the impact of migration as a lot of foreign labors and visitors (mainly non-Saudi) are immigrant workers who legally or illegally arrive in this city. Not only does religion and work attract people to this area, but also the instability, due to wars in countries surrounding Saudi Arabia, or other Muslim countries lead to large numbers of people fleeing to Saudi Arabia. Therefore, refugees around the region and mass migration in the North Africa and Middle East could have a huge impact on leishmaniasis particularly in Al Madinah, a holy city that attracts millions of muslims annually. The countries in which these migrants come from, are known to be leishmaniasis endemic countries, so the disease is a trans-frontier health problem.

Vectors in Al-Madinah Almonowra; Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidea: Phlebotominae) are of considerable obligate vectors of Leishmaniasis

In a recent study done by Aymen El-Badry et al the entomological survey was carried out in four provinces representing the surrounding of Al-Madinah Almonawra.

Western Saudi Arabia from May 2007 to April 2008

In Al-Madinah Almonawarah, a total of 809 sand flies were collected 72.6% females and 27.3% males, they composed of four species of two genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia comprising 658 (81.3%) P. Papatasi, 27 (3.3%) p. sergenti 34 (4.2%) S. cyldei and 90 (11.1%) S. antennata. P. papatasi was most abundant species of collected sand flies8.

Five species of rodents were caught, namely, Meriories libycus; Psammomys obesus; Rattus rattus; Jaculus jaculus and Hystrix indica, with the former as the most dominant (90%). Examination of these rodents revealed detectable leishmanial parasite in Almadinah Almonawra and Tabouk regions all proved to be Leishmania major Zymodeme LON -4. The most prominent research was the National Leishmaniasis Research Project (NLRP) held at Al-Hassa Oasis in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom in which the analysis of isoenzyme data was used. During this project, the species of Leishmania parasite responsible for Zoonotic Cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in this region was determined to be Leishmania major Zymodeme LON-4. The potential vectors of this Zymodeme and the main reservoir animal hosts were also identified to be Phlebotomus papatasi9 and the fat sand mouse, Psammomys obesus Cretzschmar, 1828 was the reservoir host10.

In the South-Western parts (Aseer, Jazan and Al-Baha regions) of the Kingdom during the same period. The parasite responsible for ZCL in Tehama lowlands of these areas were also found to be related to L. major Zymodeme LON-4, whereas at high lands of Sarawat Mountains in Asir and Al-Baha regions L. tropica is the main cause of Cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Several Zymodeme of this species were identified; Zymodeme LON-10, LON-63, LON-71, LON-72 and LON-73 and their potential vector was recognized as phlebotomus sergenti11. In the Central parts of the Kingdom (Riyadh and Al-Kharj areas) further studies conducted proved that L. major Zymodeme LON-4 is the major cause of ZCL and the main reservoir host was determined to be the Libyean rodent, Merionies libycus Lichtenstein, 1823, and they determined the potential vector in these areas to be Phlebotomus papatasi12.

In a study, done by (Dajem and Abdalla et al 2010 unpublished paper) the L. major zymodeme LON-4 was isolated also from the Libyan rodent M. lybicus (Muridae family). It is cosmopolitan species of rodent. It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Western Sahara.

Iso-enzyme characterization of Leishmania isolates from Almadinah Almonawarah show that all isolates of Leishmania parasite from human patients or from infected rodents characterized by the iso-enzyme electrophoresis were found belong to the Leishmania major Zymodeme LON-4. Isoenzyme electrophoresis profiles for two enzymes, MDH and ASAT tested in form humans and Lybean jird respectively.

Classification of the isolates drawn from the ulcers taken from patients reveals that the causative agent was L.major Zymodeme LON-4. L. major parasite was also detected in Libyan rodents prevalent in the areas studied. The distinctive isoenzyme profile of L. major isolated from humans patients and rodents host in these areas were both identified to be Zymodeme LON-4.

Theory and calculation

Almadinah Almonawarah is a holy city; many people from various parts of the world visit it all year round. This population dynamics will be a great role in transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study will evaluate this effect and the burden on public health.

Methodology

Study area

This study was conducted in Almadinah Almonawarah Western region of Saudi Arabia, its elevation above sea level is 630 meters, the average annual temperature maximum, 30°C to minimum 20°C, with average humidity 33%, and the average annual rainfall of 38.4 millimeter, most cases of this study were staying in two districts and Al-Madinah city. Al-Yutamah around seventy five kilometer North to Al-Madinah and Shajow located hundred kilometers South to Al-Madinah. It is a semi-cultivated desert area with houses and many farms containing sheep and poultry breeding houses, irrigated by underground water, which has created a rich habitat supporting endemic animal including desert rodents and sand flies populations. Both areas have a unique nature and this is reflected by the presence of the; various type of soil (sand, mud and rocky soil), variable weather and climatic condition such as heavy rain, hot summer and cold dry winter. Average temperature is high during summer (August mean temperature: 39°C), while in winter it is generally cooler (January mean temperature: 25°C) and the presence of different types of plants in many farms, this facilitated the distribution of insect vectors and animal reservoirs in the area.

Study population

The population of the Utamah district is around 4 thousand persons, and in this town, there is Administrative Public Council, Police Station, primary, secondary and higher schools, one Primary Health Care Center and Ambulance Center.

Many villages surrounding Utamah town, where cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic, especially Negeah village about seven kilometers South to Utamah, were most cases of the study were selected. All the village people are relatives with non-indigenous workers, their main income depends on agriculture and live stock, i.e., working as farmers and shepherds.

Most of the foreign inhabitants live in sub-standard housing conditions, having domestic animals in their houses: sheep, cows, goats and dogs.

The population of the Shajow district is around 350,000 persons, and in this town, there is Police Station, primary, secondary and higher schools, one Primary Health Care Center.

The third area was Almadinah Almonawarah city, which is well developed city with all facilities, and has many palm trees, most cases who participated in this study were from the farm in Khulial street in the south of the city, the population of the city around 3.5 million.

All patients with CL attending Utamah, Shajow health centre and Al-migat Hospitals during the study period from March 2010 to September 2011 were included in the study (total number 164 patients).

Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data

Clinical, epidemiological and demographic data were collected using a special questionnaire. All cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were clinically and laboratory diagnosed mainly microscopically confirmed.

Clinical diagnosis

All patients were diagnosed clinically by inspection of the ulcers. The ulcers were very characteristic with prominent edges, volcanic appearance, started with papules and took long term mostly one to six months without pain.

Parasitological diagnosis

For all patients (n=164) samples from the edges of the lesion were collected using an insulin injection, and aspiration was done and put in two clean microscopic slides with drops of normal saline, then the slides were left to dry completely.

For Giemsa stain, the slides were fixed with 100% methanol, left to dry then covered with 10% Giemsa stain and left for 15 minutes then rinsed with distilled water by pouring water on the edge of the slide.

The smear were allowed to dry and then examined carefully for Leishmania amastigote microscopically at X100 power using the immersion oil lens. No culture was made for any sample in this study. In some cases using the Leishman stain by covering the slides with stain for 30 mints then left to air dried, finely exam microscopically at X100 power using immersion oil lens.

All these techniques were performed in the laboratory of Al-miquat Hospital in Al-Madinah Almonawarah

Ethical considerations

All patients with active lesions who took part in this research project had given informed consent. All the risks had been explained to them by the principal investigator before the beginning of the programme. Participants could choose to withdraw from the study at any time if they wished. This study was conducted after permission of the health authority of the vector born diseases in Al-Madinah region. The procedures followed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia) and in keeping with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964, as revised in 1975, 1983, 1989, 1996, and 2000. Human rights were fully observed.

Data analysis techniques

The collected data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS version 19.

Results

Epidemiological and demographic analysis

This study includes 164 patients. All of them were male, because of cultural and religious reasons. Age distribution of study group ranged from 0 to more than 30 years old. Those from 0 to less than 10 years were 12 patients (7.4) patients their age from 10 to 20 years were 13 (8%). Patients whose age ranged from 21 to 30years were 78 (47.9) those more than 31 years of age were 61 (36.8%). The mean age was 29.2.+ 2.5. Most of the patients under study were single (89%). The study group was from different nationality; their distribution is shown in table 1. Concerning patient occupation; farmers were the majority (48.8%), followed by builders (20.1%), students were 7.3%, while the least group was poultry farmers (4, 2.4%). Regarding sleeping habits of the participants most of them sleep indoor (94, 58%) and this mostly depended on the availability of the electricity. Other important factors were usage of the bed nets. Those who never used it were 85.4% Table 2. Moreover most of the patients (83%) were not using protective cloths.

Table 1

Nationality of the study group

Country	Number of patients	Percent %
Egypt	43	26.2
Sudan	17	10.4
Bangladesh	12	7.3
Pakistan	35	21.3
India	17	10.3
Saudi Arabia	32	19.5
Yemen	8	4.9
Total	164	100

Table 2

Usage of impregnated bed nets among study group

Usage of bed nets	Number of patients	Percent %
Rarely used	2	1.2
Always used	22	13.4
Never used	140	85.4
Total	164	100

Clinical presentation of the study group

Concerning the sites of the lesions, most occurred in only in the upper extremities 41.5%, as compared to other sites shown in fig 1. Those that had lesions in their face were children under the age of 7 years.

Most of the patients had a low number of lesions; 1–3 (78%) and 4, and more lesions found in 22% of patients. For clinical confirmation, most of the patients ( 86.6%) had visited one of the medical services (health center or hospital) within 1–3 months from the onset of the symptoms and those went within 4–6 months were 11%, while only one patient attended the health center more than six months after the appearance of the lesion. Almost all patients received medication (91.5%).

Laboratory results

Concerning the results of the microscopic examination, 88 patients were positive. In 76 patients receiving treatment depending on clinical diagnose, all of them received it from health center of Yutamah and Shajow villages, as they had no facilities of laboratory investigation. The results of leishmanin skin test (LST) (montonegro test) were negative in all patients.

Comparison between the nutritional statuses of patient and the severity of the disease, was expressed as number of ulcers. Among 71 patients out of the total 164 patients, those were underweight, had normal weight, or were overweight with the number of lesion, the results shown in table 3.

Table 3

Comparison between nutritional status and severity of the disease in 71 patents

Body mass index (Nutritional status)	Clinical presentation
	1–3 lesions	4–6 lesions	>6 lesion
Under wt. BMI < 19	16	8	2
Normal Wt. BMI 20-<25	20	12	4
Over wt. BMI > 25	6	2	1

Discussion

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-mediated skin disease, characterized by chronic wounds on the skin and caused by macrophages in protozoan parasites. Foreign workers are affected significantly in leishmaniasis, due to the fact that most of them came from leishmania endemic countries such as, Turkey, Syria, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Yemen and others. Usually the standard of living when they resettle in Saudi Arabia is low, and thus leads to low nutritional status, which left them vulnerable to leishmaniasis.

The Syrian refugee crisishas precipitated a catastrophic outbreak of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis now affecting hundreds of thousands of people living in refugee camps or trapped in conflict zones. A similar situation may also be unfolding in Eastern Libya and Yemen13–18. cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence in Syria was restricted to 2 areas to which it is endemic (Aleppo and Damascus); According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, during 2000–2012, only 6 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were reported in Lebanon. However in 2013 alone, 1,033 new cases were reported, of which 96.6% occurred among the displaced Syrian refugee populations19–23. cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence in Sudan24, The first cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sudan were reported by Thomson and Palfour in 1910, in two Egyptian solders who had contracted the disease in upper Egypt. The first indigenous case was described by Archibald in 1911 in a native form in the Nuba Mountains, Kordofan province in Western Sudan . Sporadic cases were reported by Christopherson in 1914 in Khartoum and by Kirk&Drow in1938 in Blue Nile and Darfur province. A single case was described by Kirk in Equatoria province in 1942.

There have been several reported outbreaks of the disease in Sudan, the last being in Khartoum State in 1985 and involving at least 10,000 cases. Following the original epidemic, a study has shown that about 30% of the examined individuals from Tuti Island had sub-clinical infections as proven by a positive leishmanin skin test in the absence of scars or previous history of active skin lesion. By contrast, during the epidemic of the 1980s, 80% of patients from Tuti Island and other parts of Khartoum were active parasitologically confirmed cases. A study on leishmania reservoir conducted in The Green Valley Village in Nuba Mountain West of Sudan, using direct microscopy and modified direct agglutination test (DAT-R), ELISA, K39 and PCR.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health concern in Turkey and Sanliurfa represents the most endemic city in Turkey. Although children are most commonly affected by CL, detailed studies of pediatric CL in Turkey are lacking. An increase in pediatric CL patients within the last four years. Analysis of pediatric CL patients by age revealed significant differences in CL progression. The data suggests that children between 0–5 years old responded better than other groups to intra-lesional treatment, since they received more often a single cycle of Intralesional treatment, although follow up observation is required since they were more prone to develop recidivans. Eleven-15 year old patients comprised the largest percentage of patients receiving two or three cycles of intralesional treatment, suggesting that this group did not respond efficiently to intralesional treatment and highlighting the need for more effective therapeutic strategies against CL. Turkey is an endemic country for CL and the main causative agent is L. tropica. However, CL caused by L. infantum and L. major has also been reported especially from Eastern part of the Mediterranean Region 25–28.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the highlands of Ethiopia, and almost always caused by Leishmania aethiopica. Hitherto, Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia) was not considered endemic for CL, mainly due to absence of epidemiological and field ecological studies. This report summarizes the preliminary epidemiological investigation that proved the existence of active transmission in SouthEastern Addis Ababa and existence of isolated zoonotic foci of CL in South Eastern Addis Ababa, with P. longipes as the likely vector and H. brucei as the natural reservoir host29,30.

Species-specific diagnosis was performed in 66 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) living in Tataouine focus in SouthEastern Tunisia. Leishmania DNA was extracted directly from dermal scrapings and from parasites obtained in culture. Species were identified by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for internal transcribed spacer region 1 and isoenzyme analysis. Leishmania tropica and L. major were identified in 31 (47%) and 35 (53%) cases respectively. Leishmania tropica CL cases were geographically scattered, and L. major CL cases were clustered. Lesions caused by L. tropica were mostly single (83.8%) and face-localized (55.8%), and lesions caused by L. major were multiple (57.1%; P < 0.001) and situated on limbs (83.7%; P < 0.001). For both species, most lesion onsets were reported during June-January. However, lesions that emerged during February-May were mainly caused by L. tropica (83.3%; P < 0.01). Moreover, the delay before seeking medical advice was higher for L. tropica infections than for L. major infections (P < 0.05)31–34.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in the Southern and Southeastern Anatolia region and is still an important public health problem in Turkey35. Because of the civil war in Syria, immigrants to this region in the last 3 years have begun to more frequently present with this disease. The aim of this study was to draw attention to the dramatic increase in new cases with CL after the beginning of the civil war in Syria. Immigrations to endemic regions of Turkey from neighbouring countries where CL incidence is higher may lead to large increases in case numbers. In order to decrease the risk of exposure, housing conditions of the refugees must be improved, routine health controls must be performed, effective measures must be set in place for vector control, and infected individuals must be diagnosed and treated to prevent spread of the infection.

As cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence is high in other middle East countries including Iraq36, Jordan37, Iran38 and Afghanistan39, it might increase the local prevalence in Saudi Arabia, due to immigrations and refugees from citizens of these unstable countries.

This is a field base cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Madinah Almonawarah in KSA in order to study the effect of population dynamics in form of migration, refugees and foreign labors on real situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the holy city of Al-Madinah Almonawarah. All patients included in this study were male due to culture and religious reasons, total number was 164 . The incidence rate of CL infection was 85.4% in patients over 15 years old. This finding is lower than that reported for but higher than in Iran (38%) and Turkey (45%)40. It is postulated that the decrease in incidence with age was due to development of immunity by previous infections. This study indicates that the incidence rate of multiple lesions in CL patients is 58%. This result could be due to long periods of exposure to Plebotomine sand flies and the high population density of sand flies in this area.

Regarding the distribution of CL lesions in this study, we found that the higher proportion of the lesions were located solely on the upper limbs (41.5%), and lower limbs (17%). These observations are consistent with studies concerning Turkey and Iran.

Half of the occupation in this study were farming (80, 48.8%). This will lead to outdoors transmission. Most patients in this study were not using the bednets (140, 85.4%) neither using any protective clothes or methods, this led to increase transmission of the disease. The importance of using bednets and protective cloth have been demonstrated by many studies in Gadareff state Eastern Sudan and White Nile state in Sudan.

A multifaceted, collaborative approach must be taken to control the incidence of CL41, with priority given to initiatives that will not only aid in the prevention and control of CL but also improve the living conditions and survival of refugee populations. The World Health Assembly already adopted a resolution in 2007 to address the global burden of leishmaniasis42, but immediate action must be taken to address the spreading burden of CL in the Middle East. By no fault of their own, refugees and displaced individuals are often fleeing from one unimaginable circumstance of horror and violence to another of poverty and disease43. International communities have a responsibility to pay greater attention to this pressing issue, and it is imperative that proactive measures are taken to establish efficient and sustainable initiatives aimed at diagnosing, treating, and preventing CL as the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen continue.

Conclusion

This study indicates that CL is endemic in Al-Madinah Almonawra region. Non-Saudi settlers, immigrants, foreign workers and refugees are the predominant patients. Case detection and treatment as well as control of the vector and reservoir will yield to eliminate this disease.