Risk Factors of Visceral Leishmaniasis among Residents of Chemolingot, Baringo Kenya

Background and study aim: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a female phlebotomine sand fly. Globally, over 350 million people are estimated to be at risk annually, approximately 4000 are from Kenya. Baringo County has been identified as a VL endemic focus, but its associated risk factors are yet to be well established.

Patients and Methods: 331 respondents (200 males and 131 females) who presented with signs and symptoms of VL were consecutively recruited into the study. A questionnaire was administered, the variables of interest were:  age, gender, socioeconomic characteristics, and type of housing among other variables.  Blood samples were drawn from the respondents and tested by immuno-chromatographic technique (ICT) Kinensin rk39 antigen test kit (IT LEISH, France) for confirmation.

Results: VL positive cases were 131 and negative cases were 200. There was a significant positivity difference in gender; males 88 (44.2%) females 43 (32.6%) (χ24.500 df1 P = 0.034). Pastoralism (45.6%) (χ2= 46.50 df 7 p = 0.001), housing conditions; grass thatched houses (89.74%) (χ2= 64.0, df.1, p = 0.001), stick walled houses (66.3 %) (χ2 =179.120, df4, P=0.001) and Presence of animals in homes (89.6%) (χ2 =210.167 df1 P< 0.001). No significant difference in age (χ2 =2.184 df3 p = 0.535).

Conclusion: Male gender, Pastoralism, poor housing, and the presence of animals in homes increased the risk of VL infection.