{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,21]],"date-time":"2026-05-21T20:08:24Z","timestamp":1779394104597,"version":"3.53.1"},"update-to":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,4]],"date-time":"2021-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1622764800000}}],"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]],"date-time":"2021-05-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1621814400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"School of Public Health, University of Ghana.","award":["Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO\/TDR)"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO\/TDR)"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus <jats:italic>Leishmania<\/jats:italic>. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected <jats:italic>Leishmania<\/jats:italic> parasites among persons with skin ulcers.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methodology\/Principal findings<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Using a cross-sectional study design, the prevalence of CL in three communities of the Oti Region of Ghana was investigated. Demographic and epidemiological data were obtained by a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 426 (12.4%) out of 3,440 participants screened had at least one skin ulcer. Of 595 skin ulcers sampled and tested by PCR for <jats:italic>Leishmania<\/jats:italic> infection, 150 (25.2%) ulcers from 136 individuals tested positive, accounting for an overall CL prevalence of 31.9% among persons with skin ulcers. Individual community CL prevalence of 23.2%, 29.8%, and 36.8% was observed in Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop respectively among persons with skin ulcers.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions\/Significance<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Confirmation of CL in the study area suggests an active cycle of transmission of <jats:italic>Leishmania<\/jats:italic> infection. The observation of skin ulcers which tested negative to <jats:italic>Leishmania<\/jats:italic> infection suggests a need to test for additional causes of skin ulcers such as <jats:italic>Treponema pallidum pertenue<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Mycobacterium ulcerans<\/jats:italic> in the study area.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]],"date-time":"2021-05-24T17:30:27Z","timestamp":1621877427000},"page":"e0009416","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three communities of Oti Region, Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5778-1472","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Richard","family":"Akuffo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carmen","family":"Sanchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1297-1376","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Carmen","family":"Chicharro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eugenia","family":"Carrillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0286-1990","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Naiki","family":"Attram","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mba-Tihssommah","family":"Mosore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5389-0607","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Clara","family":"Yeboah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nana Konama","family":"Kotey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6434-7298","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Daniel","family":"Boakye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jose-Antonio","family":"Ruiz-Postigo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0087-4659","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Javier","family":"Moreno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6048-8509","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Michael","family":"Wilson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6995-6364","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Bismark","family":"Sarfo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francis","family":"Anto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0009416.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed4010004","article-title":"Skin-Related Neglected Tropical Diseases (Skin NTDs)\u2014A New Challenge","volume":"4","author":"R Hay","year":"2018","journal-title":"Trop Med Infect Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2019\/2603730","article-title":"Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Complexity of Host\u2019s Effective Immune Response against a Polymorphic Parasitic Disease","volume":"2019","author":"\u00c1 Gabriel","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Immunol Res"},{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0009416.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1007\/s11908-015-0489-2","article-title":"Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Travellers: a Focus on Epidemiology and Treatment in 2015","volume":"17","author":"AJ Showler","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr Infect Dis Rep"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3402\/gha.v4i0.5527","article-title":"An outbreak of suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana: lessons learnt and preparation for future outbreaks","volume":"4","author":"MA Kweku","year":"2011","journal-title":"Glob Health Action"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2006.75.502","article-title":"Short report: ITS-1 DNA sequence confirmation of Leishmania major as a cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis from an outbreak focus in the Ho District, southeastern Ghana","volume":"75","author":"DJ Fryauff","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.diagmicrobio.2007.09.013","article-title":"Evidence for a new species of Leishmania associated with a focal disease outbreak in Ghana","volume":"60","author":"JT Villinski","year":"2008","journal-title":"Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis"},{"issue":"11","key":"pntd.0009416.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"679","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2015.05.001","article-title":"First isolation of a new species of Leishmania responsible for human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ghana and classification in the Leishmania enriettii complex","volume":"45","author":"G Kwakye-Nuako","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref008","unstructured":"Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). 2010 POPULATION & HOUSING CENSUS; DISTRICT ANALYTICAL REPORT: Nkwanta south district. 2014;"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref009","unstructured":"Ghana Statistical Service. 2010 POPULATION & HOUSING CENSUS; DISTRICT ANALYTICAL REPORT: Nkwanta north district. 2014;"},{"issue":"10","key":"pntd.0009416.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apjtm.2016.07.025","article-title":"Epidemiology of the outbreak, vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mali: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"9","author":"AK Kone","year":"2016","journal-title":"Asian Pac J Trop Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0009416.ref011","first-page":"1","article-title":"Ghana Demographic and Health Survey","volume":"21","author":"Ghana Statistical Service","year":"2014","journal-title":"Stud Fam Plann"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref012","article-title":"Sampling and Household Listing Manual","author":"Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology","year":"2012","journal-title":"Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref013","first-page":"1","author":"Y Taslimi","year":"2017","journal-title":"A novel non-invasive diagnostic sampling technique for cutaneous leishmaniasis"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S185","DOI":"10.1016\/S0035-9203(02)90074-X","article-title":"A nested polymerase chain reaction (Ln-PCR) for diagnosing and monitoring Leishmania infantum infection in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus","volume":"96","author":"I Cruz","year":"2002","journal-title":"Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg"},{"issue":"8","key":"pntd.0009416.ref015","article-title":"Vector and reservoir control for preventing leishmaniasis (Review).","author":"U Gonz\u00e1lez","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev."},{"issue":"11","key":"pntd.0009416.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0005141","article-title":"Prevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Districts of High and Low Endemicity in Mali","volume":"10","author":"B Traore","year":"2016","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis."},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(07)70209-8","article-title":"Cutaneous leishmaniasis","volume":"146","author":"Richard Reithinger","year":"2007","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref018","first-page":"2018","article-title":"Pentavalent antimonials combined with other therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review","author":"TRN Berbert","year":"2018","journal-title":"Dermatol Res Pract."},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4061\/2011\/571242","article-title":"Use of Antimony in the Treatment of Leishmaniasis: Current Status and Future Directions","volume":"2011","author":"AK Haldar","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mol Biol Int"},{"issue":"5","key":"pntd.0009416.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002832","article-title":"Species-Directed Therapy for Leishmaniasis in Returning Travellers: A Comprehensive Guide","volume":"8","author":"CJ Hodiamont","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis."},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0000628","article-title":"A randomized controlled trial of local heat therapy versus intravenous sodium stibogluconate for the treatment of cutaneous Leishmania major infection","volume":"4","author":"NE Aronson","year":"2010","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis."},{"issue":"4","key":"pntd.0009416.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4632.2004.02002.x","article-title":"Comparative study of the efficacy of combined cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (GlucantimeR) vs. cryotherapy and intralesional meglumine antimoniate (GlucantimeR) alone for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis","volume":"43","author":"A Asilian","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int J Dermatol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pntd.0009416.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1097\/MJT.0b013e3181822e90","article-title":"Current treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis: a review","volume":"16","author":"E Palumbo","year":"2009","journal-title":"Am J Ther"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002130","article-title":"Methodology of Clinical Trials Aimed at Assessing Interventions for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis","volume":"7","author":"P Olliaro","year":"2013","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis."},{"issue":"12","key":"pntd.0009416.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006986","article-title":"Interventions to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in children: A systematic review","volume":"12","author":"A Uribe-Restrepo","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref026","first-page":"9","article-title":"Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Update on Vaccine Development","author":"C Whyte Davian","year":"2017","journal-title":"Hum Parasit Dis"},{"issue":"APR","key":"pntd.0009416.ref027","first-page":"1","article-title":"Cutaneous leishmaniasis vaccination: A matter of quality","volume":"7","author":"PM De Luca","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2013.03.026","article-title":"An approach for interlaboratory comparison of conventional and real-time PCR assays for diagnosis of human leishmaniasis","volume":"134","author":"I Cruz","year":"2013","journal-title":"Exp Parasitol"},{"issue":"7","key":"pntd.0009416.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2110","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.02555-06","article-title":"Detection and identification of Leishmania species from clinical specimens by using a real-time PCR assay and sequencing of the cytochrome b gene","volume":"45","author":"F Foulet","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"issue":"4","key":"pntd.0009416.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"419","DOI":"10.1586\/eri.10.19","article-title":"Current diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis","volume":"8","author":"H Goto","year":"2010","journal-title":"Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther"},{"issue":"4","key":"pntd.0009416.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e401","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(18)30023-8","article-title":"Comparative efficacy of low-dose versus standard-dose azithromycin for patients with yaws: a randomised non-inferiority trial in Ghana and Papua New Guinea","volume":"6","author":"M Marks","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Heal"},{"key":"pntd.0009416.ref032","first-page":"1","article-title":"Yaws Prevalence, Lessons from the Field and the Way Forward towards Yaws Eradication in Ghana","volume":"2014","author":"P Agana-Nsiire","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int Sch Res Not."},{"issue":"11","key":"pntd.0009416.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0003279","article-title":"Risk Factors for Buruli Ulcer in Ghana\u2014A Case Control Study in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar and Akuapem South Districts of the Eastern Region","volume":"8","author":"E Kenu","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis."},{"issue":"6","key":"pntd.0009416.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2008","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006560","article-title":"Laboratory confirmation of Buruli ulcer cases in Ghana, 2008\u20132016","volume":"12","author":"D Yeboah-Manu","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0009416.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006303","article-title":"Community-based mass treatment with azithromycin for the elimination of yaws in Ghana\u2014Results of a pilot study","volume":"12","author":"AA Abdulai","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","type":"new_version","label":"New version","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,4]],"date-time":"2021-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1622764800000}}],"container-title":["PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,6,4]],"date-time":"2021-06-04T19:01:46Z","timestamp":1622833306000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Henk D. F. H.","family":"Schallig","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","relation":{"new_version":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009416","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1935-2735"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1935-2735","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,24]]}}}