A survey of the distribution of dermal leishmaniasis in British Honduras
- 1 January 1968
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Vol. 62 (2), 213-220
- https://doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(68)90159-4
Abstract
A survey of 14 villages in British Honduras was done to estimate the incidence of dermal leishmaniasis; diagnosis of past or present infection with Leishmania mexicana was made by using the Montenegro skin test. Infection was found throughout the whole country, highest in the central areas, and lowest in the most southern Indian villages and in the coastal villages. No infection was found among the Blue Creek Men-nonites, although mestizos who had worked there claimed to have been infected. The possible role of clothes and insect-free dwellings is discussed. A male-female ratio of 5.31 of infection was found; probably because women spend less time in the bush. The highest prevalence was in the 36-50-year age group. The low antigenicity of mexicana is suggested as the reason for the absence of an immune L. response in the children. The ear is confirmed as the commonest site of infection; the elbow is second. Possible reasons are discussed. The presence of subclinical infection is suggested because of the large number of people with positive skin tests, who denied ever having had bay sore. The presence of doubtful reactions to the skin test may also be significant in this context.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- The epidemiology of dermal leishmaniasis in British Honduras: Part II. Reservoir-hosts of Leishmania mexicana among the forest rodentsTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1964
- Leishmania mexicana: The epidemiology of dermal leishmaniasis in British HondurasTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1963
- Parasites of British Honduras with special reference to LeishmaniasisTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1959