Detection of Leishmania donovani in peripheral blood of asymptomatic individuals in contact with patients with visceral leishmaniasis

摘要

BackgroundThe majority of individuals infected with Leishmania donovani complex remain asymptomatic. They may act as transmission reservoirs for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). We investigated sero-prevalence of L. donovani complex amongst those closely associated with patients with VL and whether these sero-reactive individuals had Leishmania parasites in their peripheral blood. Other risk factors were also investigated.