Distribution and Seasonal Variation of Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia Sand Fly Populations in Bhutan.

Leishmaniasis is considered one of the neglected tropical diseases in the world. Although Bhutan is a member of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination consortium in South Asia, not much attention has been accorded to the disease because of its low incidence. The vector that transmits Leishmania remains poorly understood.

Efforts toward the Elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis in South Asia: A Review of Progress in Bhutan.

Leishmaniases are a group of diseases under the category of neglected tropical diseases targeted for global elimination. However, they continue to pose major clinical and public health problems, especially among those living in poor socioeconomic conditions. Here, we summarize leishmaniasis elimination efforts in Bhutan.

Epidemiological Analysis of the 2019 Dengue Epidemic in Bhutan.

Bhutan experienced its largest and first nation-wide dengue epidemic in 2019. The cases in 2019 were greater than the total number of cases in all the previous years. This study aimed to characterize the spatiotemporal patterns and effective reproduction number of this explosive epidemic.

Is Leishmaniasis donovani elimination feasible in Bhutan? A review of current prevention and control mechanisms in Bhutan.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with an annual estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases globally. The diseases affect the rural community and people living in poverty. It is transmitted by female phlebotomine sand-fly; a tiny 2-3 mm long insect vector.

Atypical Presentation of Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis in Bhutan.

This article describes an atypical case of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis associated with complications due to delayed diagnosis and poor case management. The grave consequences of the prolonged disease process that continued for over 2 decades with eventual healing included facial disfigurement, visual impairment, and mental distress both to the patient and the family. The persistent infection within the skin over a lengthy period with likely increased risk of infection spread in the community highlights its potential negative impact on the ongoing leishmaniasis elimination program in the Indian subcontinent.

Molecular and morphological evidence of sibling species in Anopheles baileyi Edwards (Diptera: Culicidae) in Bhutan and Thailand.

This paper reports the results of a molecular and morphological study of Anopheles baileyi in Bhutan and Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal (ITS2) and mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequences revealed the presence of four genetically distinct clades, three in Bhutan (Clades I, II and III) and one in Thailand (Clade IV). Most of the larvae in the Bhutanese clades differed from those in the Thai clade in having seta 4-C branched, whereas it is single in the latter.

Molecular and morphological evidence for sibling species within Anopheles (Anopheles) lindesayi Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Bhutan.

This paper reports the results of a comparative molecular and morphological study of An. lindesayi collected from various districts of Bhutan and An. l.

Malaria elimination in Bhutan: asymptomatic malaria cases in the Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers from India.

In 2018, Bhutan reported 54 cases of malaria, of which six were indigenous, 14 introduced and 34 imported. Considering the continuous reduction in the number of indigenous cases, Bhutan plans to eliminate malaria by 2025 under the Bhutan Malaria Elimination Strategy. The study was conducted to assess the presence of asymptomatic plasmodial infection in both, Bhutanese population living in malaria-risk areas and in migrant workers to guide the elimination strategies.

A checklist of the Anopheles mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in Bhutan.

The present paper records, for the first time, the Anopheles fauna of Bhutan, determined from surveys conducted from 2007 to early 2018. Adult mosquitoes were collected mainly on cattle bait and occasionally in human landing catches. Collections of immature stages were performed in various aquatic habitats.