Re-emergence and influencing factors of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the extension region of Loess Plateau, China

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 18; no. 5; p. e0012182
• Main Authors: Luo, Zhuowei, Wang, Fenfen, Guo, Zhaoyu, Huang, Lulu, Qian, Peijun, Wang, Wenya, Chen, Shenglin, Li, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Peijun, Zhang, Yi, Wu, Bin, Zhou, Zhengbin, Hao, Yuwan, Li, Shizhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analysis; Animals; Aquatic insects; Biology and Life Sciences; Breeding; Building materials; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; China - epidemiology; Concrete; Construction materials; Demographics; Deserts; Disease control; Distribution; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dog Diseases - transmission; Dogs; Domestic animals; Emergence; Emerging communicable diseases; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Houses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Kala-azar; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - prevention & control; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - transmission; Loess; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Mountains; Parasitic diseases; People and Places; Pest control; Physical Sciences; Provinces; Public awareness; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Regression models; Repellents; Residential areas; Retrospective Studies; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Risk reduction; Software; Stone; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tropical diseases; Variables; Vector-borne diseases; Visceral leishmaniasis; Young Adult; Zoonoses; Zoonoses - epidemiology; Zoonoses - transmission; China; Loess Plateau
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012182

To understand the epidemiological distribution characteristics of mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL) in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China, from 2006 to 2021, to explore the influencing factors leading to the re-emergence of the epidemic, and to provide a basis for the formulation of targeted control strategies. Case information spanning from 2006 to 2021 in Yangquan City was collected for a retrospective case-control study conducted from June to September 2022. A 1:3 matched ratio was employed. A questionnaire was utilized to gather data on basic information, demographic characteristics, awareness of MT-ZVL knowledge, residence, and dog breeding and living habits. The study employed a multifactorial conditional stepwise logistic regression model to analyze the influencing factors. A total of 508 subjects was analyzed. Risk factors for MT-ZVL included the use of soil/stone/concrete as building materials (OR = 3.932), presence of nearby empty/stone stack houses (OR = 2.515), dog breeding (OR = 4.215), presence of stray dogs (OR = 2.767), and neighbor's dog breeding (OR = 1.953). Protective factors comprised knowledge of MT-ZVL (OR = 0.113) and using mosquito repellents (OR = 0.388). The findings indicate significant associations between environmental and behavioral factors and MT-ZVL incidence in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China, from 2006 to 2021. These results underscore the importance of public awareness campaigns and targeted interventions aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors and promoting protective measures to mitigate the re-emergence of MT-ZVL outbreaks. House building materials, presence of neighboring empty houses, breeding domestic dogs and distribution of stray dogs surrounding the home are risk factors for MT-ZVL. Awareness of MT-ZVL and implementation of preventive measures during outdoor activities in summer and autumn are protective and may reduce the risk of MT-ZVL.