Abstract:
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is mainly a disease of the
skin, (may visceralize in some species) which is brought about by a
protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania. She aethiologi©
agent of CL in the highlands of Ethiopia is Leishmania aethiopiea
(Bray e£ al., 1973)* The same species is also responsible for CL in
the Mount Elgon region of Kenya (Kaddu and Mutinga, 1981} Mutinga and
Qdhiambo, 1986a, b).
Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. aethiopiea has been reMSB
corded from Sebeta (Shoa), Aleku (Wollega), Kutaber and Vfurgessa (Wollo)
and Ochollo (Gamo Gofa) (Lemma £t al., 1969* Ashford et al•, 1973)*-
Cases coming to the Armanuer Hansen Research Institute (AHRl) for
treatment indicate that CL prevails in many highland §reas of Ethiopia
(Sarojini et al., 1984).
The phlebotomine sandflies incriminated as vectors of CL in
Ethiopia are P. longipes and P. pedifer while in Kenya it is only P*
pedifer. Preliminary studies indicate that P. pedifer is the sole vector
of CL in Ochollo while P. longipes is presumably the vector in most of
the other highland areas of Ethiopia (Lemma et al., 1969; Ashford et al,,
1973; Gemetchu, 1977; Gemetahu,et al., in press).
