Spatial associations of Hansen's disease and schistosomiasis in endemic regions of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brazil has the second highest case count of Hansen's disease (leprosy, HD), but factors contributing to transmission in highly endemic areas of the country remain unclear. Recent studies have shown associations of helminth infection and leprosy, supporting a biological plausibility for increased leprosy transmission in areas with helminths. However, spatial analyses of the overlap of these infections are limited. Therefore, we aimed to spatially analyze these two diseases in a co-endemic area of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to identify potential epidemiologic associations.

Methods

An ecological study using public health surveillance records and census data was conducted to investigate whether the occurrence of HD -and specifically multibacillary (MB) disease- wa

SUBMITTER: Stephens JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11753700 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature