Spatial and Temporal Variability of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2007 to 2018

Abstract.Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease associated with poverty and is endemic in 56 countries worldwide. Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia are the most affected countries in South America. In Colombia, the National Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) consolidates epidemiological information and monitors all VL cases nationwide. However, to date, no studies have investigated the occurrence of VL in Colombia using metadata analysis. We studied the demographic data, the spatial and temporal distribution of VL cases, and the association with vector distribution of Leishmania species in Colombia from 2007 to 2018. We found 306 VL cases reported to SIVIGILA for this period, with a coverage of 25.5 cases/year, and a mortality of 2.28% (seven deaths). The highest number of confirmed cases (N = 52) occurred in 2007; the lowest (N = 9) occurred in 2012. The cases were reported mainly in children (< 7 years) affiliated with the subsidized health regimen. Regarding the geographic distribution, the cases were reported by 42 municipalities distributed in 10 departments. The occurrence of VL cases toward the northeast of Colombia, and the distribution of vectors, such as Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. evansi, may be changing the panorama of VL in the country. We conclude that VL, mainly in recent years, shows a temporal and spatial variability associated with the occurrence of cases in new settings. Our findings increase our understanding and knowledge of this disease, and suggest the need to monitor and prioritize areas with changes in geographic expansion to improve prevention and control actions in the country.

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Lutzomyia longipalpis behavior and control at an urban visceral leishmaniasis focus in Argentina

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652010000400004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 187-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Maria Soledad Santini ◽

Oscar Daniel Salomón ◽

Soraya Alejandra Acardi ◽

Enrique Adolfo Sandoval ◽

Lilian Tartaglino

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Time Space ◽

Local Officials ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

During the earlier stages of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in Posadas City, Misiones, both the night activity and attraction to humans of Lutzomyia longipalpis were assessed, in order to provide preliminary recommendations. The impact of peridomestic deltamethrin spraying performed by local officials was also evaluated. Although Lu. longipalpis were found in traps located over a dog the entire night, 90% of the females were captured from 20.30h to 1.30h, and only landed on a human when he was at a distance of 1.5 m from the dog. Peridomestic spraying of deltamethrin (25 mg/m²) reduced the sand fly capture up to seven days post-intervention without dispersion in the border of the sprayed areas. These results support the recommendations about time-space focus of the protection measures: first half of the night, in the backyard, with pets and domestic animals kept at least 5 m from humans. The deltamethrin as it was used did not seem very effective in this scenario; neither did the eventual use of bed nets, at least in adults, due to the place/hour of sand fly higher activity. This study strengthens the need for a multidisciplinary approach to develop prevention strategies based both on biological and anthropological studies.

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Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: trends and challenges

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s0102-311x2008001200024 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 24 (12) ◽

pp. 2941-2947 ◽

Cited By ~ 128

Author(s):

Ana Nilce Silveira Maia-Elkhoury ◽

Waneska A. Alves ◽

Márcia Leite de Sousa-Gomes ◽

Joana Martins de Sena ◽

Expedito A. Luna

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Urban Areas ◽

New Technologies ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Laboratory Diagnosis ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Vector Behavior ◽

And Control ◽

Diagnosis Of Infection

The urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil has been related to environmental changes, migration, interaction and spread of sylvatic reservoirs and infected dogs to areas with no transmission, and adaptation of the vector Lutzomyia longipalpis to the peridomiciliary environment. From 1980 to 2005, Brazil recorded 59,129 cases of visceral leishmaniasis, 82.5% of which in the Northeast region. Visceral leishmaniasis gradually spread to other regions of the country: in 1998 these other regions reported 15% of all cases, but by 2005 this proportion had increased to 44%. From 1998 to 2005, indigenous cases were reported in 1,904 different municipalities of the country (34.2%). Reservoir and vector control pose major challenges for disease control, since there is a need for better knowledge of vector behavior in urban areas, and control activities involve high operational costs. In recent years the Brazilian Ministry of Health has supported research on the laboratory diagnosis of infection and disease in humans and dogs, treatment of patients, evaluation of the effectiveness of control strategies, and development of new technologies that could contribute to the surveillance and control of visceral leishmaniasis in the country.

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Visceral leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: eco-epidemiological aspects and control

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822009000500017 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 42 (5) ◽

pp. 570-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Mauro Celio de Almeida Marzochi ◽

Aline Fagundes ◽

Moacir Vieira de Andrade ◽

Marcos Barbosa de Souza ◽

Maria de Fátima Madeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Control Measures ◽

Epidemiological Surveillance ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Leishmania Chagasi ◽

Environmental Preservation ◽

Continental Slopes ◽

Canine Infection ◽

And Control

From 1977 (index case) to 2006, 87 cases of visceral leishmaniasis were confirmed in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in periurban areas on the continental and coastal slopes of the Pedra Branca massif and the continental slopes of the Gericinó massif. The majority (65.5%) of the patients were more than five years old, predominantly males (61.5%), but without any difference between the sexes below the age of 14 years. The overall fatality rate was 10.4%. Two cases of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus coinfection were detected. Leishmania chagasi was isolated from human and canine cases. The associations between the presence of phlebotomines and human and canine migrations, disorderly occupation involving degradation of environmental preservation areas and poor socioeconomic conditions may have created a favorable setting for the establishment and propagation of the disease. Close epidemiological surveillance associated with traditional control measures and others (active case researches, land clearing and health education), reduced the incidence of human cases from 2.8 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1981 to less than 0.01 per 100,000 since 1997. The canine infection rates decreased from 4.6% in 1984 to 1.6% in 2008. Lutzomyia longipalpis was not detected in some locations where human and canine cases occurred. In the years 2007 and 2008, no new human cases were reported, but there is a persistent and worrisome residual canine seroprevalence.

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Epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in Jaciara, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2003 to 2012

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612014008 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 63-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Veruska Nogueira de Brito ◽

Cenita Maria Oliveira ◽

Patrícia Lazari ◽

Valéria Régia Franco Sousa

Keyword(s):

Information System ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Environmental Monitoring ◽

Enzyme Immunoassay ◽

The State ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

State Health ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Vector Distribution ◽

Analyze Data

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in the Americas. In Brazil, it is transmitted by sandflies of the species Lutzomyia longipalpis and L. cruzi, and dogs are the main domestic reservoirs. The aim of this study was to analyze data relating to VL transmission in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso, and discuss vector distribution, domestic reservoirs, and human cases that occurred between 2003 and 2012. The data for analysis were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (human), the State Health Department's Environmental Monitoring Agency (canine data) and the State Health Department's Entomology Laboratory (sandfly data). Over this period, Jaciara had 19 autochthonous human cases (12 males and seven females), with one death 2,273. Out of the 7,545 dogs tested by enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence were positive. The sandflies collected comprised 5,015 individuals belonging to 24 species, with a predominance of L. whitmani followed by L. cruzi. The results showed that the parasite has frequent circulation and that the vector L. cruzi is widely distributed over all months, thus suggesting that transmission may occur at any time of the year.

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Canine visceral leishmaniasis in riverside communities of the Cuiabá river watershed

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2019v40n6supl2p3313 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (6Supl2) ◽

pp. 3313

Author(s):

Valéria Régia Franco Sousa ◽

Álvaro Felipe de Lima Ruy Dias ◽

Juliana Yuki Rodrigues ◽

Mariana de Medeiros Torres ◽

Janaína Marcela Assunção Rosa Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Axenic Culture ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

River Watershed

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic zoonosis expanding in Brazil. Several municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso including those on the river Cuiabá have reported the incidence of both human and canine cases and the identification of sandfly vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. cruzi. Dogs are considered the main reservoir of Leishmania chagasi in the urban areas, hence, we devised a cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the prevalence of the infection in the dogs of riverside communities on Cuiabá River watershed by parasitological (parasitic isolation in culture), serological, and molecular methods. Of the 248 surveyed dogs, 24 were positive in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), with a prevalence of 9.7%. The riverside communities located in the town of Santo Antonio do Leverger displayed a higher prevalence of the disease than the cities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Dogs born in the communities had a 3.24-fold higher risk of acquiring the infection. Promastigote were isolated in the axenic culture from the bone marrow samples and intact skin. Further, DNA of Leishmania sp. was detected in the bone marrow samples, lymph nodes, leukocyte cover, and skin of only one examined dog. These samples were sequenced and they showed 99% homology to L. infantum. To conclude, we observed a higher prevalence of infection in Riverside communities of Santo Antonio do Leverger and the confirmation of autochthony in these areas justifies the surveillance actions to minimise the risk of transmission within the riverine community itself, besides its dissemination to other areas by tourism.

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Dispersal of Lutzomyia longipalpis and expansion of canine and human visceral leishmaniasis in São Paulo State, Brazil

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.09.014 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 164 ◽

pp. 233-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Agda Maria Oliveira ◽

Carolina Portugal Vieira ◽

Margareth Regina Dibo ◽

Marluci Monteiro Guirado ◽

Lilian Aparecida Colebrusco Rodas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

São Paulo ◽

Paulo State ◽

Human Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

São Paulo State

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Association of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) population density with climate variables in Montes Claros, an area of American visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ◽

10.1590/s0074-02762009000800020 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 104 (8) ◽

pp. 1191-1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Érika Monteiro Michalsky ◽

Consuelo Latorre Fortes-Dias ◽

João Carlos França-Silva ◽

Marilia Fonseca Rocha ◽

Ricardo Andrade Barata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Population Density ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

The State ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Climate Variables

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Ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia migonei in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612014068 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 320-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Rafaella Albuquerque Silva ◽

Fabricio Kassio Moura Santos ◽

Lindemberg Caranha de Sousa ◽

Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel ◽

Claudia Maria Leal Bevilaqua

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Endemic Area ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Sampling Site ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Sampling Points ◽

Lutzomyia Migonei

The main vector for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is Lutzomyia longipalpis. However, the absence of L. longipalpis in a region of autochthonous VL demonstrates the participation of other species in the transmission of the parasite. Studies conducted in La Banda, Argentina, and São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco State, Brazil, have correlated the absence of L. longipalpisand the presence of L. migonei with autochthonous cases of VL. In São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco, there was evidence for the natural infection of L. migonei with Leishmania infantum chagasi. Thus, the objective of this work was to assess the ecology of the sand flies L. longipalpis and L. migonei in Fortaleza, an endemic area for VL. Insect capture was conducted at 22 sampling points distributed across four regions of Fortaleza. In total, 32,403 sand flies were captured; of these, 18,166 (56%) were identified as L. longipalpis and 14,237 (44%) as L. migonei. There were significant density differences found between the vectors at each sampling site (indoors and outdoors) (p <0.0001). These findings confirm that L. migonei and L. longipalpis are distributed throughout Fortaleza, where they have adapted to an indoor environment, and suggest that L. migonei may share the role as a vector with L. longipalpis in the transmission of VL in Fortaleza.

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Natural infection of phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a visceral-leishmaniasis focus in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652007000200011 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 119-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

João Cezar do Nascimento ◽

Byanca Regina de Paiva ◽

Rosely dos Santos Malafronte ◽

Wedson Desidério Fernandes ◽

Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Natural Infection ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Common Species ◽

The Other ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Leishmania Chagasi ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Negative Results ◽

Mato Grosso Do Sul

The main purpose of this study was to investigate natural infection by Leishmania in phlebotomine females in a visceral-leishmaniasis focus in Antonio João county in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Between June and October 2003, the digestive tracts of 81 females captured in Aldeia Campestre, Aldeia Marangatu and Povoado Campestre were dissected. The females were separated by species, location, area and date of capture into 13 groups and kept in ethanol 70%. To identify the Leishmania species using the PCR technique, amplifications of the ribosomal-DNA (rDNA) and mini-exon genes were analyzed. Of the 81 specimens, 77 (95%) were Lutzomyia longipalpis, making this the most common species; only one specimen of each of the species Brumptomyia avellari, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Evandromyia lenti and Nyssomyia whitmani was found. Trypanosomatids were identified in eight of the nine groups of Lutzomyia longipalpis (10.39%) one group from Aldeia Campestre, one from Aldeia Marangatu and six from Povoado Campestre; of the eight groups, one from Aldeia Marangatu and another, with promastigotes forms also confirmed by dissection (1.23%) from Povoado Campestre, were identified by PCR as Leishmania chagasi (2.6%). The other groups gave negative results. These findings indicate that there is a high risk of leishmaniasis transmission in this area.

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