title: Cross-sectional study to assess risk factors for leishmaniasis in an endemic region in Sri Lanka.
abstract: Sri Lanka reports significantly more cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases than visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases, both of which are caused by Leishmania donovani MON-37. A cross-sectional study conducted in an area with a high prevalence of CL prevalent included 954 participants of an estimated population of 61,674 to estimate the number of CL cases, ascertain whether there is a pool of asymptomatic VL cases, and identify risk factors for transmission. A total of 31 cases of CL were identified, of whom 21 were previously diagnosed and 10 were new cases. Using rK39 rapid diagnostic test to detect antibodies against Leishmania spp., we found that only one person was seropositive but did not have clinical symptoms of CL or VL, which indicated low transmission of VL in this area. χ(2) test, independent sample t-test, and multivariate analysis of sociodemographic and spatial distribution of environmental risk factors showed that living near paddy fields is associated with increased risk for transmission of CL (P ≤ 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka; Regional Epidemiology Unit, Regional Director of Health Services Office, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka; Dermatology Unit, Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka; Geographic Information System Branch, Department of Surveys, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Office of the Medical Officer of Health, Thalawa, Sri Lanka; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Shalindra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranasinghe
authors.forename: Rajitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
authors.forename: Asoka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munasinghe
authors.forename: Sanjeeva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hulangamuwa
authors.forename: Sundaramoorthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivanantharajah
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seneviratne
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandara
authors.forename: Indira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Athauda
authors.forename: Chaturi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navaratne
authors.forename: Ositha
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Hasini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wackwella
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matlashewski
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
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