title: Urban transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Argentina: spatial analysis study.
abstract: We used kernel density and scan statistics to examine the spatial distribution of cases of pediatric and adult American cutaneous leishmaniasis in an urban disease-endemic area in Salta Province, Argentina. Spatial analysis was used for the whole population and stratified by women > 14 years of age (n = 159), men > 14 years of age (n = 667), and children < 15 years of age (n = 213). Although kernel density for adults encompassed nearly the entire city, distribution in children was most prevalent in the peripheral areas of the city. Scan statistic analysis for adult males, adult females, and children found 11, 2, and 8 clusters, respectively. Clusters for children had the highest odds ratios (P < 0.05) and were located in proximity of plantations and secondary vegetation. The data from this study provide further evidence of the potential urban transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Argentina.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina. jgil@unsa.edu.ar
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Julio R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.forename: Silvana P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cajal
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juarez
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Rubén O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diosque
authors.forename: Alejandro J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Krolewiecki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult