Risk factors for cutaneous leishmaniasis in the rainforest of Bolivia: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Daniel Eid, Miguel Guzman-Rivero, Ernesto Rojas, Isabel Goicolea, Anna-Karin Hurtig, Daniel Illanes, Miguel San Sebastian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018
• Subjects: American cutaneous leishmaniasis; Risk factors; Epidemiology; Bolivia; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-018-0089-6; https://doaj.org/article/c9a2a602d77a4b1591620a81e1033761

Abstract Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease in Bolivia, particularly in the rainforest of Cochabamba, in the municipality of Villa Tunari. The precarious, dispersed, and poorly accessible settlements in these farming communities make it difficult to study them, and there are no epidemiological studies in the area. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2015 and August 2016 in two communities of Villa Tunari, Cochabamba. The cases were diagnosed through clinical examinations, identification of the parasite by microscopic examination, and the Montenegro skin test. Risk factors were identified through logistic regression. Results A total of 274 participants (40.9% female and 59.1% male) were surveyed, of which 43% were CL positive. Sex was the only factor associated with CL with three times more risk for men than for women; this finding suggests a sylvatic mechanism of transmission in the area. Conclusions It is advisable to focus on education and prevention policies at an early age for activities related to either leisure or work. Further research is needed to assess the influence of gender-associated behavior for the risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis.