Leishmaniasis in Egypt, U.A.R.

Abstract

Though leishmaniasis is an uncommon infection in Egypt, indigenous cases of Leishmania tropica infection exist and imported cases of L. tropica and L. donovani occur. Since Phlebotomus papatasi, a sandfly vector for leishmaniasis, is common in Egypt the failure to recognize clinical infections may have potential public health significance. Six cases of human leishmaniasis were diagnosed at the United States Naval Medical Research Unit 3 in Cairo in the past 2 years. The leishmanin skin test is a simple and effective field method for determining incidence, prevalence and distribution rates of leishmaniasis in Egypt. One endemic focus was found.