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Springer Verlag, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 5(20), p. 0354-0357

DOI: 10.1007/s100960100506

Springer Verlag, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 5(20), p. 354-357

DOI: 10.1007/pl00011276

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Evidence of Increased Risk for Leishmania infantum Infection Among HIV-Seronegative Intravenous Drug Users from Southern Spain

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This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

To assess the prevalence of markers of Leishmania infection, 93 intravenous drug users and 77 nonusers of intravenous drugs underwent a Leishmania skin test and a serum Leishmania antibody search. All participants were human immunodeficiency virus seronegative. The Leishmania skin test was positive in 24 intravenous drug users and in 10 non-users of intravenous drugs (P=0.038). Leishmania seropositivity was detected in 3 of 11 active intravenous drug users and in 3 of 82 former drug injectors (P=0.02). Positivity in the Leishmania skin test was associated with intravenous drug use (adjusted odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-5.24). The prevalence of Leishmania infection markers among intravenous drug users is higher than that among controls. This suggests that this parasite spreads through the sharing of needles.