Urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Objectives: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Brazil and appears to occur in epidemic form in the state of Ceará. Few epidemiologic studies have been done on VL in this state. The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiologic pattern of VL in Fortaleza City and to show how urbanization has occurred in recent years.