by Cloots K, Uranw S, Ostyn B, Bhattarai NR, Le Rutte E, Khanal B, Picado A, Chappuis F, Hasker E, Karki P, Rijal S, Boelaert M. Lancet Global Health 2020; 8(2) E237-E243. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30536-4
Summary: The authors assessed whether transmission of Leishmania donovani had decreased in Nepal since the launch of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination initiative in 2005. A repeat survey was conducted in a population from three districts in the eastern region of Nepal for whom baseline serological data were available from 2006. Transmission of L donovani was found to have decreased significantly between 2006 and 2016, coinciding with the elimination programme. However, there are infected individuals in villages that have not reported any visceral leishmaniasis cases for several years, thus continued surveillance is necessary. The authors also concluded that the direct agglutination test (DAT) could provide a useful tool for monitoring of L. donovani transmission in the peri-elimination phase on the Indian subcontinent.
