Published date: Mar 29 2024

Journal Title: Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences

Issue title: Sudan JMS: Volume 19 (2024), Issue No. 1

Pages: 119–132

DOI: 10.18502/sjms.v19i1.15788

Ahmed Osman Ahmed Abdallaahmedjedovet@gmail.comDepartment of Parasitology, Microbiology, and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Gadarif, Gadarif State, Sudan

Abdullah MohammedDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Gadarif, Gadarif State, Sudan

Hanan Abdalla Ahmed El hadiDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gadarif, Gadarif State, Sudan

Mona Abdelrahman Mohamed KhaierDepartment of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan

Alsadig Abdalla ZainaldeenDepartment of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan

Background: Leishmania donovani is a protozoan parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis, a potentially fatal disease in humans and dogs. The epidemiology and transmission dynamics of L. donovani in Sudan are poorly understood. We aim to determine the prevalence and characterization of L. donovani in human hospital cases and domestic dogs using different diagnostic methods in two localities in Gadarif State, Sudan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to April 2020. Whole blood samples and lymph node aspirates were collected from 69 human and 32 dog participants for parasitological, immunological, and molecular tests.

Results: No parasites were detected in blood samples from either humans or dogs. Lymph node microscopy revealed 71.01% positivity in humans and 9.4% in dogs. The IT Leish test showed 82.6% positivity in humans and 43.75% in dogs. PCR confirmed L. donovani infection in all six selected samples (three from humans and three from dogs).

Conclusion: The study confirmed the presence of L. donovani in both human and dog populations in the study area, suggesting that dogs may act as reservoirs or hosts for the parasite. The IT Leish kit test was the most sensitive and specific method, while microscopy of blood and lymph node smears was the least sensitive method. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of dogs in the transmission cycle of L. donovani and the risk factors associated with human infection.

Keywords: Leishmania donovani, Sudan, dogs, prevalence, molecular diagnosis

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