Insights into leprosy epidemiology from an isolated population located in the Brazilian Amazon.

ABSTRACT: Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused mainly by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), is still an important public health problem in countries such as Brazil and India. Here, we estimate key epidemiological parameters in the Prata Village, a unique, hyper-endemic, former leprosy colony isolated in the Brazilian Amazon. This is a population-based study in which the entire Prata Village population has been enrolled. Clinical, socioeconomic, and demographic data were obtained and validated by cross-checking using three independent information sources. Validated data was used for descriptive epidemiological analysis. From a total of 2,005 inhabitants by the time of the enrollment, 1,084 (56.2%) were born in the Village and, therefore, likely under lifelong exposure to leprosy cases. We obse

SUBMITTER: de Oliveira Mackert CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11840054 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature