Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 18, 2025
In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice
Published on: February 20, 2020
Visceral Leishmaniasis - China, 2015-2019
Zhengbin Zhou1, Shan Lyu1, Yi Zhang1
1National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases declined overall, but mountain-type zoonotic VL and imported cases increased significantly in China. Public health must address MT-ZVL spread and ensure prompt diagnosis, especially for children.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a significant vector-borne disease in rural China, posing complex prevention and control challenges.
- Recent trends indicate a decrease in overall VL cases but a concerning rise in specific subtypes and imported infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiological trends of visceral leishmaniasis in China from 2015 to 2019.
- To identify shifts in VL case distribution, including the emergence of mountain-type zoonotic VL (MT-ZVL) and imported cases.
- To highlight high-risk populations for VL.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of VL case data from 2015 to 2019.
- Categorization of cases into indigenous, MT-ZVL, and imported.
- Identification of demographic risk factors, focusing on age and occupation.
Main Results:
- Overall VL cases decreased from 498 in 2015 to 166 in 2019.
- Mountain-type zoonotic VL (MT-ZVL) cases increased from 16.5% (82) in 2015 to 73.5% (122) in 2019.
- Imported VL cases rose from 3.6% (18) in 2015 to 24.7% (41) in 2019, with 13 counties reporting indigenous MT-ZVL cases.
- Infants, young children (62.4%), and farmers (22.3%) were identified as high-risk groups.
Conclusions:
- Both MT-ZVL and imported VL cases demonstrate an increasing trend in China.
- Effective VL control requires strategies to prevent MT-ZVL re-emergence and spread.
- Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent fatal outcomes, particularly in non-endemic regions and vulnerable populations like children.
