Publication
Title
Spatial analysis of **Leishmania donovani** exposure in humans and domestic animals in a recent kala azar focus in Nepal
Author
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a major public health problem in the Indian subcontinent where the Leishmania donovani transmission cycle is described as anthroponotic. However, the role of animals (in particular domestic animals) in the persistence and expansion of VL is still a matter of debate. We combined Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) results in humans and domestic animals with Geographic Information System technology (i.e. extraction maps and scan statistic) to evaluate the exposure to L. donovani on these 2 populations in a recent VL focus in Nepal. A Poisson regression model was used to assess the risk of infection in humans associated with, among other factors, the proportion of DAT-positive animals in the proximities of the household. The serological results showed that both humans and domestic animals were exposed to L. donovani. DAT-positive animals and humans were spatially clustered. The presence of serologically positive goats (IRR=9·71), past VL cases (IRR=2·62) and the proximity to a forest island dividing the study area (IRR=3·67) increased the risk of being DAT-positive in humans. Even if they are not a reservoir, domestic animals, and specially goats, may play a role in the distribution of L. donovani, in particular in this new VL focus.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Parasitology. - London, 1908, currens
Publication
London : 2010
ISSN
0031-1820 [print]
1469-8161 [online]
DOI
10.1017/S0031182010000521
Volume/pages
137 :11 (2010) , p. 1597-1603
ISI
000283190100001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.02.2011
Last edited 04.03.2024
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