Xenodiagnosis to evaluate the infectiousness of humans to sandflies in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India: a transmission-dynamics study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known on the Indian subcontinent as kala-azar, is a fatal form of leishmaniasis caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bites of the vector sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes. To achieve and sustain elimination of visceral leishmaniasis, the transmission potential of individuals exposed to L donovani from across the infection spectrum needs to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative infectiousness to the sandfly vector of patients with visceral leishmaniasis or post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis, before and after treatment, and individuals with asymptomatic infection.

Methods

In this prospective xenodiagnosis study done in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Ind

SUBMITTER: Singh OP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7869864 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature