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. 2010 Feb;16(2):231-7.
doi: 10.3201/eid1602.090623.

Domestic animals and epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis, Nepal

Affiliations

Domestic animals and epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis, Nepal

Narayan Raj Bhattarai et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

On the Indian subcontinent, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is considered an anthroponosis. To determine possible reasons for its persistence during interepidemic periods, we mapped Leishmania infections among healthy persons and animals in an area of active VL transmission in Nepal. During 4 months (September 2007-February 2008), blood was collected from persons, goats, cows, and buffaloes in 1 village. Leishmania infections were determined by using PCR. We found infections among persons (6.1%), cows (5%), buffaloes (4%), and goats (16%). Data were georeferenced and entered into a geographic information system. The bivariate K-function results indicated spatial clustering of Leishmania spp.-positive persons and domestic animals. Classification tree analysis determined that among several possible risk factors for Leishmania infection among persons, proximity of Leishmania spp.-positive goats ranked first. Although our data do not necessarily mean that goats constitute a reservoir host of L. donovani, these observations indicate the need for further investigation of goats' possible role in VL transmission.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A) Visceral leishmaniasis–endemic area (red) of Nepal under study by KALANET project (www.kalanetproject.org); B) satellite picture of Dharan-17, Nepal. Copyrights 2009 Google Image; 2009 DigitalGlobe; 2009 Europa Technologies; and 2009 Mapabc.com.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of sampled households and domestic animals, by visceral leishmaniasis status as determined by PCR, Dharan-17, Nepal, September 2007–February 2008.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Classification tree results, showing interplay between risk factors of Leishmania positivity, determined by PCR, for A) humans and B) goats, in Dharan-17, Nepal, September 2007–February 2008.

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