Background: Drug addiction is known to compromise the immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, the status of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among drug users, a high-risk group, has not been well understood yet. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the seroepidemiology of VL among drug users in Fars Province, southern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 1,400 serum samples from drug users in Fars Province for anti-Leishmania antibodies using a homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The data collected during sampling were documented in a questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS (version 27). Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.59 (±12.50) years, with 52.7% aged between 40 and 50 years. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in the sera of 27 (1.9%) of the subjects, predominantly in males (92.6%). No significant gender difference was observed in the presence of antibodies. Additionally, seroprevalence did not noticeably differ between injecting and non-injecting drug users. Eventually, the majority of seropositive individuals were under the age of 20 years (18.2%, n=11), highlighting a higher burden among younger participants. Conclusion: The findings revealed a significant prevalence of VL among drug users in Fars Province, indicating the importance of tailored public health initiatives and additional studies to support this at-risk group.
Dehghani et al. (Mon,) studied this question.