Urban transmission of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Argentina: Spatial analysis study

GIL, JF; NASSER, JR; CAJAL, SP; JUAREZ, M; ACOSTA, N; CIMINO, RO; DIOSQUE, P; KROLEWIECKI, AJ

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE

AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE

Año: 2010 vol. 8 p. 433 - 440

0002-9637

The present study examined, by means of kernel density and scan statistics, the spatial distribution of cases of pediatric and adult American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an urban endemic area located in Salta Province, Argentina. Spatial analysis was used for the whole population and stratified by adult females >14 years (n=159), adult males >14 years old (n=667) and children <15 years old (n=213). While the kernel density for adults encompasses 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.