TITLE:
Epidemiological Assessment of Leishmaniasis in Tibesti Province, Chad (2021-2025)
AUTHORS:
Mahamat Souleymane Issa, Ali Sougoudi Djiddi, Hassane Taïsso Mahamat Moussa, Issakha Diar Mahamat Saleh, Djimet Ahmat Allafouza, Adam Seid Mahamat Ali, Ousmane Mahamat Amine, Moussa Abdelkerim Issa, Andrew Mark Hotchkin, Andrea Joy Hotchkin, Israël Kodindo, Djaskano Mahamat Idriss, Batrane Adam, Olivier N’Garadoum, Jean Hubert Madjigoto, Oumar Adoum Mahamat, Blanche-Philomene Melanga Anya, Honoré Djimrasengar, Magloire Tampele Moialbaye, Clément Kerah Hinzoumbé, Yakhoub Kaltam Abderaman, Adano Mahamat, Issa Ali Hagar, Hassoumi Manah, Atteib Meram, Abakar Allatchene Mahamat, Togui Ahmat, Zakaria Zrack Mahamat, Jean-Eudes Djilolmbairangar, Mahamat Ali Hassan, Oumaima Mahamat Djarma, Brahim Boy Otchom, Mahamat Ali Bolti
KEYWORDS:
Leishmaniasis, Epidemiology, Prevalence, Tibesti, Chad
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.16 No.3,
September
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Visceral leishmaniasis remains a major neglected tropical disease and an important public health challenge in the Tibesti province of Chad. During this five-year period, cutaneous leishmaniasis was very rare, with only a few isolated cases. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of leishmaniasis in Tibesti between 2021 and 2025. It was conducted at the Bardai hospital. Data were collected from laboratory registers. All suspected cases of leishmaniasis were confirmed through laboratory testing. Of the 1031 suspected cases, 232 were confirmed positive, yielding a positivity rate of 22.5%. Visceral leishmaniasis accounted for the overwhelming majority of cases (97.4%), whereas cutaneous leishmaniasis was infrequent (2.6%). The disease disproportionately affected children under five years of age (52.2%) and males (77.4%). The Analysis revealed a high concentration of cases in the Bardai and Zouar health districts. An increasing trend was observed over the study period, with the positivity rate rising from 19.0% in 2021 to 33.6% in 2025. These findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen surveillance systems and improve access to early diagnosis and treatment, particularly among high-risk populations.