LEISHMANIN REACTION IN THE HUMAN-POPULATION OF A HIGHLY ENDEMIC FOCUS OF CANINE LEISHMANIASIS IN ALPES-MARITIMES, FRANCE

The reactivity of the human population was studied in the village of l'Abadie, a suburban focus of canine leishmaniasis (17% of dogs seropositive in 1985); 237 subjects were tested in 1989. The total positive rate was 30%. A higher proportion of positive skin tests was obtained in the 61-70 years age group (62%) than in the younger groups. The proportion of positive tests also increased with the duration of living in this locality (22% for less than 5 years; 66% for more than 21 years). These data confirm the continuing occurrence of transmission of leishmaniasis to human beings in this focus.