Intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in a region of northeastern Brazil: a situation analysis after the discontinuance of a zoonosis control program

Abstract In São Luís, Maranhão, northeastern Brazil, the notification of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases intensified in 1982, showing endemic and epidemic patterns. In this city, the Center for Zoonoses Control (CZC) was an organization in charge of the control and prevention of the disease. However, technical and political reasons have led to a significant decline in the periodicity of its activities. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the epidemiological scenario of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and the prevalence of the disease in dogs after the cessation of the CZC activities, covering the period of 2007 to 2016. The seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis was determined based on clinical and serological profiles. HVL cases were notified using data provided by the Municipal Health Department of São Luís. A seropositivity rate of 45.8% (p = 0.0001) was found among dogs, 54% (p = 0.374) of which were asymptomatic. As for human cases, there were 415 notifications, with an increase in the incidence of the zoonosis observed during the aforementioned period. Thus, it can be inferred that after the control and surveillance activities were curtailed, there was an increase in the number of seropositive animals in circulation, acting as reservoirs of infection for dogs and humans.

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Seroepidemiological Survey of Canine Leishmania Infections from Peripheral Areas in Natal, Northeast Brazil

The Open Microbiology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874285801509010043 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 43-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Isabelle Ribeiro Barbosa ◽

Francisco Canindé Carlota ◽

Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Domestic Dog ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Human Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Significant Difference

Background and Objective: Human visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Natal, northeast of Brazil, where the domestic dog is an important parasite reservoir in the infectious cycle of Leishmania spp. In this study, was evaluated the antileishmanial IgG antibody and epidemiological factors related to canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Methods: Sera samples obtained by venipuncture of 1,426 dogs living in areas of human visceral leishmaniasis occurrence were tested for detection of IgG anti-leishmania antibodies with Immunofluorescence Antibody Assay (IFA) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Chi-square (x2) and Odds Ratio (OR) were calculated. Differences were considered statistically significant at p≤0.05. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 10.30% (147/1,426); prevalence increased when the samples were found to be positive at least for one technique ([417/1,426] 29.3%). The high percentage of seroprevalence was observed in Nova República (15.35%), Nova Natal I (12.7%) and Lagoa Azul (11.4%) neighborhoods. In the Planalto, Soledade and Brasil Novo, the infection rates ranged from 7.5 at 8.06%. (p=0.00051). There was neither statistically significant difference between leishmanial infection nor clinical signs of disease (p=0.84; OR=1.0 [0.41; 2.3]), sex (p=0.78, OR=0.94 [0.66; 1.28]); and breed (p=0.92; OR=1.0 [0.65; 1.54]) were observed. Conclusion: The RESULTS suggest that CVL is widely distributed in Natal, may be increasingly urbanizing and will spread through neighborhoods but not endemic, resulting in a serious public health problem, emphasizing the need for epidemiological studies to a greater understanding of the distribution of canine leishmaniasis in these specific areas and contribute proactively to the public health policies.

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Spatial analysis of canine leishmaniasis in an area of transmission of the semi-arid region of the State of Paraíba, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120201089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Raizza Barros Sousa Silva ◽

Laysa Freire Franco-Silva ◽

Diana Azevedo Lima ◽

Angélica Beatriz Araújo de Andrade Freitas ◽

Walter Massa Ramalho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Spatial Clustering ◽

Control Program ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Canine Plasma

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis is a widely distributed zoonosis and canine infection is an important indicator of risk for the occurrence of the disease in humans. The goal of this analysis was to study the spatial clustering of canine leishmaniasis (CL) in the municipality of Santa Luzia, state of Paraíba. For this, 749 samples of canine plasma were tested using three serological tests. The dog was considered positive if it reacted in two serological tests. The location of the residences was performed with a Global Positioning System receiver (GPS Garmin® eTrex 30), and used to perform georeferencing and spatial analysis. The prevalence of CL was 15.49% and it was observed that most cases of the urban area were concentrated in the Frei Damião neighborhood, on the outskirts of the city, where a high-risk cluster for the occurrence of the disease was formed (p = 0.02; RR = 2.48). No statistically significant cluster was observed in rural areas. CL is widely distributed in the municipality of Santa Luzia in a heterogeneous manner and with a tendency to urbanization. The areas identified with high prevalence and highest risk should be prioritized to maximize the efficiency of the Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program and minimize the chance of new canine and human cases.

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Where, when, and how the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis is defined: answers from the Brazilian control program

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ◽

10.1590/0074-02760190253 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 114 ◽

Author(s):

João Gabriel Guimarães Luz ◽

Amanda Gabriela de Carvalho ◽

Danilo Bueno Naves ◽

João Victor Leite Dias ◽

Cor Jesus Fernandes Fontes

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Control Program ◽

Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

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Factors associated with Leishmania chagasi infection in domestic dogs from Teresina, State of Piauí, Brazil

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822012005000009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 480-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

João Pereira da Silva ◽

Guilherme Loureiro Werneck ◽

Emanuelle Cardoso Macedo ◽

Hanny de Carvalho ◽

Maria do Socorro Pires e Cruz

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Control Program ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Domestic Dogs ◽

Leishmania Chagasi ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Human Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

History Of ◽

The City

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have evaluated risk factors for human visceral leishmaniasis, but few have focused on the infection among dogs. The objective of this study was to assess the association between peridomestic socioeconomic and environmental factors and the presence of dogs seropositive for Leishmania chagasi in the City of Teresina, Brazil. METHODS: This case-control study was based on the results of a routine seroepidemiological survey among domestic dogs carried out in 2007. Serological tests were performed by means of indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. All dwellings in which at least one seropositive dog was detected were considered cases, and controls were a random sample of dwellings in which only seronegative dogs were identified. Associations between variables were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) estimated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Dwellings with a history of dogs removed by the visceral leishmaniasis control program in the last 12 months had five-fold higher odds of having at least one seropositive dog as compared with dwellings having no history of dog removal (OR = 5.19; 95%CI = 3.20-8.42). Dwellings with cats had 58% increased odds of dog infection as compared with those having no cats (OR = 1.58; 95%CI = 1.01-2.47). CONCLUSIONS: Identification of factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis might be used for the delimitation of areas of higher risk for human visceral leishmaniasis, since infection in dogs generally precedes the appearance of human cases.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Genetic epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1002145.10604 ◽

2001 ◽

Author(s):

Terri Beaty

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Genetic Epidemiology ◽

Northeastern Brazil

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Exploring the mechanisms of collaboration between the Tuberculosis and Diabetes Programs for the control of TB-DM Comorbidity in Ghana

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05637-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rita Suhuyini Salifu ◽

Khumbulani W. Hlongwana

Keyword(s):

Communicable Disease ◽

Control Program ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Local Health ◽

National Tuberculosis Control Program ◽

National Tuberculosis ◽

Local Health Facility ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

And Control ◽

Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Objectives To explore the mechanisms of collaboration between the stakeholders, including National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and the Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program (NCDCP) at the national, regional, and local (health facility) levels of the health care system in Ghana. This is one of the objectives in a study on the “Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of the Collaborative Framework for the Care and Control of Tuberculosis and Diabetes in Ghana” Results The data analysis revealed 4 key themes. These were (1) Increased support for communicable diseases (CDs) compared to stagnant support for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), (2) Donor support, (3) Poor collaboration between NTP and NCDCP, and (4) Low Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus (TB-DM) case detection.

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