“…Previous research has characterized income, housing type, dog ownership, population growth index, and illiteracy rates as risk factors for cVL and hVL. 8,19,20,25 In addition, comorbidities and increased likelihood of immune suppression within disadvantaged populations are significant risk factors for VL, including malnutrition, parasitism, aging, immune senescence, concurrent immunosuppressive therapy, and other immunosuppressive coinfections. 8,19,25,26 Not surprisingly, misconceptions about transmission dynamics of L. infantum between dogs, sandflies, and people resulted in an increased risk for canine infection within the household; 83.2% of respondents indicated that sandfly bites led to increased risk for hVL.…”