Risk factors and leprosy incidence among contacts in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis
BCG vaccination of contacts is effective in preventing leprosy, overall there is no clear benefit of adding SDR after BCG to reduce the number of excess leprosy cases after vaccination. SDR after BCG, however, appears effective to prevent leprosy in contacts of MB patients, smear positive index patients, and second degree blood-related contacts of index patients. Genetic relationship is a more profound risk factor for leprosy in contacts than being a household contact only. Leprosy incidence is clustered at levels of index patients and contacts, and this should be taken into account when assessing the effect of risk factors.
Authors
- Annemieke Geluk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8555-2872)
- Abu Sufian Chowdhury (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8642-1030)
- Jan Hendrik Richardus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0564-6313)
- Unnati Rani Saha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4019-9697)
- Daan Nieboer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4403-6537)
- Johan Chandra Roy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1539-0270)
- Khorshed Alam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6003-6991)
- Renate Verbiest-Richardus
Institutions
- Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
- The Leprosy Mission International (GB)
- Erasmus MC (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS neglected tropical diseases
- Published
- 2025-09-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013465
- Primary Topic
- Leprosy Research and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Turing Foundation
- Leprosy Research Initiative