期刊名称：Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health
印刷版ISSN：2282-0930
出版年度：2013
卷号：11
期号：2
DOI：10.2427/9024
语种：English
出版社：PREX
摘要：Background : Leishmania is a vector-borne parasite responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for Leishmania infantum seropositivity in a sample of Sicilian population. Methods: A total of 260 subjects were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and requested for an venous blood sample. Results: Overall, 36 subjects (13.8%) were seropositive against L. infantum with a statistically significant higher prevalence of positivity in older subjects (p=0.04). After adjustment for age, a higher risk for Leishmania seropositivity was found in subjects who had pets living outdoors and untreated with anti-pests, and in those who were current smokers (adj-OR = 2.95 and adj-OR = 3.11, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data confirm that Leishmania infections among Sicilian citizens can be considered relatively frequent, suggesting that a percentage of Leishmania seropositivity can be probably attributed to exposure to both old and new risk factors.
