Risk factors for visceral Leishmaniasis among residents and migrants in Kafta-Humera, Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis is a lethal parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. The largest focus of VL in Ethiopia is located in the lowland region bordering Sudan, where the epidemiology is complicated by the presence of thousands of seasonal agricultural workers who live under precarious conditions.

Methodology/principal findings

We conducted two parallel case-control studies to identify factors associated with VL risk in residents and migrants. The studies were conducted from 2009 to 2011 and included 151 resident cases and 157 migrant cases, with 2 matched controls per case. In multivariable conditional regression models, sleeping under an acacia tree at night (odds ratios (OR) 5.2 [95% confidence interval 1.7-16.4] for residents and 4.7 [1.9-12.

SUBMITTER: Argaw D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3820755 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature