Leishmaniases in Kenya: a scoping review subanalysis of vectors.

OBJECTIVES

Vector control is imperative for eliminating leishmaniasis as a public health problem in Kenya. As elimination efforts expand in East Africa, it is crucial to understand the current research landscape. To address that need and identify gaps, a scoping review was conducted to characterise the landscape of leishmaniasis vector research in Kenya.

DESIGN

Building on a previously published scoping review by this team, we updated database searches in PubMed, Embase via Embase.com, Web of Science Core Collection, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) and the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry to incorporate literature up to 4 January 2024 and focused on vector-related papers. Studies classified as 'prevention' in the original scoping review were included due to overlapping definitions.

RESULTS

A total of 95 studies were included in the analysis. Although a wide range of sandfly species have been documented, most of the research is outdated, having taken place 20-40 years ago. Existing studies are mostly epidemiological with little focus on basic and clinical research. There are also no studies on post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis despite its potential contribution to the disease transmission cycle. The geographical scope of the research is largely limited to traditional transmission foci with little attention to new disease hotspots such as North Eastern Kenya.

CONCLUSIONS

These research gaps need to be addressed to better inform the country's leishmaniasis prevention and vector control strategy.