Uncommon Variants in and Are Associated with Atopic Dermatitis in the Ethiopian Population.

Loss-of-function variants in the gene have been identified as the strongest cause of susceptibility to atopic dermatitis (AD) in Europeans and Asians. However, very little is known about the genetic etiology behind AD in African populations, where the prevalence of AD is notably high. We sought to investigate the genetic origins of AD by performing whole-genome sequencing in an Ethiopian family with 12 individuals and several affected in different generations.

Severe Immediate and Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Biologics in a Toddler With Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Many pediatric rheumatic diseases can be safely managed with biologic therapy. Severe allergic reactions to these medications are uncommon. We report the case of a 2-year-old male with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and secondary macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), whose treatment was complicated by severe allergic reactions to biologics, including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)/drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction (DIHR) likely due to anakinra, and anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous tocilizumab.

Free online dermatology course for medical trainees in Ethiopia: A pilot study.

Background: The effectiveness of virtual dermatology curricula in developing countries remains unclear despite an urgent need due to the pandemic and other factors.

Objective: To compare a virtual dermatology curriculum deployed in Gondar, Ethiopia with a traditional in-person course.

Methods: We developed a free, on-line dermatology course.

Undernutrition, food insecurity, and leprosy in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: A case-control study to identify infection risk factors associated with poverty.

Background: Ethiopia has over 3,200 new cases of leprosy diagnosed every year. Prevention remains a challenge as transmission pathways are poorly understood. Susceptibility and disease manifestations are highly dependent on individual host-immune response.

Poor WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Conditions Are Associated with Leprosy in North Gondar, Ethiopia.

Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is critical for preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including leprosy. WASH-related transmission factors remain largely unexplored in the leprosy transmission cycle. The aim of this project is to better understand WASH exposures among leprosy cases through a case-control study in North Gondar, Ethiopia.

Intragenic Copy Number Variation in the Filaggrin Gene in Ethiopian Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

Genetic variants in filaggrin (FLG) involving truncating mutations or intragenic copy number variation are strongly associated with the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD) in European and Asian populations. Few loss-of-function mutations have been identified in Africans, although an association between FLG copy number variation and AD severity in a small African American cohort has been proposed. We studied the association between FLG copy number and AD in 132 Ethiopians and found no association between AD severity and FLG copy number, suggesting that other, still unidentified genetic factors are of more importance in predisposing Ethiopians to AD.

Borrelia recurrentis in head lice, Ethiopia.

Since the 1800s, the only known vector of Borrelia recurrentis has been the body louse. In 2011, we found B. recurrentis DNA in 23% of head lice from patients with louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia.

Local increase of arginase activity in lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is in Ethiopia mainly caused by the parasite Leishmania aethiopica. This neglected tropical disease is common in rural areas and causes serious morbidity. Persistent nonhealing cutaneous leishmaniasis has been associated with poor T cell mediated responses; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Multispacer sequence typing relapsing fever Borreliae in Africa.

Background: In Africa, relapsing fevers are neglected arthropod-borne infections caused by closely related Borrelia species. They cause mild to deadly undifferentiated fever particularly severe in pregnant women. Lack of a tool to genotype these Borrelia organisms limits knowledge regarding their reservoirs and their epidemiology.

Patch testing and contact allergens in Ethiopia--results of 514 contact dermatitis patients using the European baseline series.

Background: Patch testing is essential to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. Dermatologists in many countries use a baseline (standard) series covering the major allergens responsible for allergic contact dermatitis in their population, with the addition of relevant allergens for the individual patient. However, a baseline series has not yet been developed for Ethiopia.

Community dermatology in Debre Markos: an attempt to define children's dermatological needs in a rural area of Ethiopia.

Background: Skin diseases are very common in rural and urban areas in developing countries. Knowledge of the real frequency of the dermatological problems of Ethiopian children could help plan future intervention for early diagnosis and low cost "good practice" therapies.

Methods: We involved in the project two primary Ethiopian schools, attended by 1765 children from grade 1 to grade 4, who were screened to assess their general skin health conditions.

Patch test reaction on Ethiopian subjects with eczema.

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis is a common condition with an incidence of 1-10% in the general population. An increasing number of allergens in the environment are responsible for the condition. These allergens can be identified using patch testing.