Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021
Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus; it is transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sandflies. Clinically, it manifests in three primary forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06796-x |
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| author | Shun-Xian Zhang Guo-Bing Yang Jian-Yong Sun Yong-Jun Li Jian Yang Ji-Chun Wang Yao Deng |
| author_facet | Shun-Xian Zhang Guo-Bing Yang Jian-Yong Sun Yong-Jun Li Jian Yang Ji-Chun Wang Yao Deng |
| author_sort | Shun-Xian Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus; it is transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sandflies. Clinically, it manifests in three primary forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, VL represents the most severe form, characterized by high morbidity and mortality, and poses a considerable public health burden, particularly in endemic regions. This study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global epidemiological trends and burden of VL from 1990 to 2021, aiming to generate evidence-based insights to inform prevention and control strategies. Methods Using GBD 2021 data, this study examined trends in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of VL across 204 countries and territories, stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. Average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated to describe trends in age-standardized rates and indicator counts from 1990 to 2021. Results From 1990 to 2021, the global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR; AAPC = −0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.25, −0.24), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR; AAPC = −0.06, 95% CI −0.06, −0.05), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR; AAPC = −0.03, 95% CI −0.04, −0.02), and DALY rate (AAPC = −2.38, 95% CI −2.44, −2.33) for VL all showed a declining trend. The ASMR was highest among children under 5 years old and decreased progressively with age. VL remains a critical and under-recognized tropical disease in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Conclusions VL disproportionately affects males and presents the highest risk in children under 5 years. Enhanced global collaboration in infectious disease control, with a focus on regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, is essential to further reduce the burden of VL. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e549e174dbc4236bb521e1a7baf1689 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e549e174dbc4236bb521e1a7baf16892025-08-20T02:32:07ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-04-0118111710.1186/s13071-025-06796-xGlobal, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021Shun-Xian Zhang0Guo-Bing Yang1Jian-Yong Sun2Yong-Jun Li3Jian Yang4Ji-Chun Wang5Yao Deng6Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineGansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionGansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Science and Technology, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Science and Technology, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic DiseasesAbstract Background Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus; it is transmitted through the bites of infected phlebotomine sandflies. Clinically, it manifests in three primary forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, VL represents the most severe form, characterized by high morbidity and mortality, and poses a considerable public health burden, particularly in endemic regions. This study utilizes data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021 to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global epidemiological trends and burden of VL from 1990 to 2021, aiming to generate evidence-based insights to inform prevention and control strategies. Methods Using GBD 2021 data, this study examined trends in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of VL across 204 countries and territories, stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. Average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated to describe trends in age-standardized rates and indicator counts from 1990 to 2021. Results From 1990 to 2021, the global age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR; AAPC = −0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.25, −0.24), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR; AAPC = −0.06, 95% CI −0.06, −0.05), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR; AAPC = −0.03, 95% CI −0.04, −0.02), and DALY rate (AAPC = −2.38, 95% CI −2.44, −2.33) for VL all showed a declining trend. The ASMR was highest among children under 5 years old and decreased progressively with age. VL remains a critical and under-recognized tropical disease in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Conclusions VL disproportionately affects males and presents the highest risk in children under 5 years. Enhanced global collaboration in infectious disease control, with a focus on regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, is essential to further reduce the burden of VL. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06796-xVisceral leishmaniasisGlobal burden of diseaseAge-standardized rates |
| spellingShingle | Shun-Xian Zhang Guo-Bing Yang Jian-Yong Sun Yong-Jun Li Jian Yang Ji-Chun Wang Yao Deng Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 Parasites & Vectors Visceral leishmaniasis Global burden of disease Age-standardized rates |
| title | Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| title_full | Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| title_short | Global, regional, and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis, 1990–2021: findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| title_sort | global regional and national burden of visceral leishmaniasis 1990 2021 findings from the global burden of disease study 2021 |
| topic | Visceral leishmaniasis Global burden of disease Age-standardized rates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06796-x |
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