search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
Medknow Publications on behalf of The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL)
ISSN: 0378-6323
EISSN: 0378-6323
Vol. 74, No. 4, 2008, pp. 338-342
Bioline Code: dv08152
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 74, No. 4, 2008, pp. 338-342

 en Contact with armadillos increases the risk of leprosy in Brazil: A case control study
Deps, PD; Alves, BL; Gripp, CG; Aragao, RL; Guedes, BVS; Filho, JB; Andreatta, MK; Marcari, RS; Prates, ICA & Rodrigues, LC

Abstract

Background: Mycobacterium leprae check for this species in other resources infection has recently been detected in wild armadillos in Brazil. Leprosy is still endemic in Brazil and although its transmission is mostly by person-to-person contact, many cases report no history of previously known leprosy contact. It has been suggested that other sources of M. leprae may contribute to the transmission of leprosy in some areas.
Aim: Our objective was to investigate whether contact with armadillos is associated with leprosy.
Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Brazil. Data was collected from 506 leprosy patients and 594 controls on exposure to armadillos and age, sex, place of birth and living conditions. Univariate analysis and unconditional logistic regression were conducted to investigate whether leprosy was associated with exposure to armadillos.
Results: Direct armadillo exposure was reported by 68% of leprosy cases and by 48% of controls (P < 0.001) roughly doubling the risk of leprosy, with odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.36-2.99].
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that direct exposure to armadillos is a risk factor for leprosy in Brazil.

Keywords
Armadillo, Brazil, Case-control study, Leprosy, Transmission

 
© Copyright 2008 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology.
Alternative site location: http://www.ijdvl.com

Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil