Cutaneous leishmaniasis is prevalent in Sri Lanka since 1992. It remains as a health issue with increasing numbers and spreading from endemic to non-endemic areas in the county. Kegalle district is a new disease focus, which notified the first case in 2016. However, there is no documented evidence of the vector distribution, abundance and potential risk factors in this district. Patients recoded from 2016-2020 were interviewed at two high risk Medical officer of Health areas and entomological surveys for leishmaniasis vectors were conducted from 2019-2020. Bioclimatic suitability for the disease transmission was evaluated using ecological niche modelling. This is the first ever approach in Sri Lanka to evaluate the bioclimatic suitability for disease transmission/establishment of Leishmaniasis. 

Tharaka Wijerathna, Krishan Wickramasinghe, Nayana Gunathilaka, Asela Perera, Sujeewa Bandara 

Acta Tropica 

Abstract :- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106719