Serological survey of cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis and evaluation of phlebotomine fauna on Marambaia Island, municipality of Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

SUMMARY Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease that affects humans, and domestic and wild animals. It is caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn = Leishmania chagasi). The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is considered the main reservoir of the etiologic agent of VL in domestic and peridomestic environments. In the past three years, although control actions involving domestic dogs are routinely performed in endemic areas of the Rio de Janeiro State, new cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) have been reported in several municipalities. The objective of this short communication was to describe the geographical expansion of CVL in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, through its reports in the scientific literature and studies performed by our group. From 2010 to 2013, autochthonous and allochthonous cases of CVL were reported in the municipalities of Mangaratiba, Marica, Niteroi, Barra Mansa, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Volta Redonda, Resende and Rio de Janeiro. These reports demonstrate that CVL is in intense geographical expansion around the state; therefore, a joint effort by public agencies, veterinarians and researchers is needed in order to minimize and/or even prevent the dispersion of this disease.

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First autochthonous case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612013000300018 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 424-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Monique Paiva de Campos ◽

Denise Amaro da Silva ◽

Maria de Fátima Madeira ◽

Artur Augusto Mendes Velho Júnior ◽

Fabiano Borges Figueiredo

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Scientific Community ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Chagasi ◽

Laboratory Findings ◽

Autochthonous Case ◽

Canine Diseases

In Brazil, American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) is caused byLeishmania (Leishmania) chagasi and its main vector isLutzomyia longipalpis. Cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in non-endemic areas have been reported over the last few years throughout the country. The objective of this research note is to describe an autochthonous case of CVL that occurred in the municipality of Volta Redonda, state of Rio de Janeiro, an area where the disease is not endemic, alerting veterinarians and the scientific community to the expansion of this important zoonosis and advising veterinary practitioners on how to deal with a suspicion of CVL. Canine visceral leishmaniasis can be misdiagnosed within a broad spectrum of canine diseases based on clinical and laboratory findings. Therefore, knowledge of its clinical manifestations, specific and sensitive laboratory diagnostic tests and parasitological procedures are of the utmost importance for rapid confirmation and notification of a case, thus contributing directly to the control of a focus.

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Serological survey for Chagas' disease in school children in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86821976000200007 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 85-89

Author(s):

Walter B. Petana ◽

José Rodrigues Coura ◽

Henry P. F. Willcox

Keyword(s):

Chagas Disease ◽

School Children ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Serological Survey ◽

Positive Serology ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Triatomine Bugs ◽

Fluorescence Test ◽

Janeiro State

A serological survey for Chagas' disease was carried out in school children in the Rio de Janeiro State, a zone considered as non-endemic for the infection. A total of 168 schools in 20 municipalities have been visited and 13,254 blood samples were obtained. The blood eluates were screened by the indirect fluorescence test (IFT), and all positive samples were checked and confirmed in sera by the complement fixation test (CFT). AH serologically positive children were subject to a clinical scrutiny, and the houses where the children lived have been searched for triatomine bugs. Only in two municipalities, Magé and Araruama, there was a significant number of children found positive. The total number of reactive samples by IFT and CFT from 13,004 blood samples screened was 143 (1.00 per cent). No serious clinicai symptoms suggestive of Chagas' disease have been found in any of the positive children, and no triatomine bugs were discovered in the dwellings where the children lived. The overall small percentage of children with positive serology postulates that the infection is not a serious health problem in the area investigated. It is recommended, however, to carry out a more detailed study in Magé and Araruama to find the reason for the relatively high percentage of serologically positive children encountered in these two municipalities.

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Natural breeding sites of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) on Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.04.008 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 104-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

T.L. Souza ◽

F.B. Figueiredo ◽

A.B. Almeida ◽

C.V. Benigno ◽

C.S. Pontes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Phlebotomine Sand Flies ◽

Breeding Sites ◽

Natural Breeding ◽

Marambaia Island ◽

Janeiro State

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Canine visceral leishmaniasis: study of methods for the detection of IgG in serum and eluate samples

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46652010000400005 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 193-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Fabiano B. Figueiredo ◽

Maria F. Madeira ◽

Lílian D. Nascimento ◽

Tuanne R. Abrantes ◽

Eliame Mouta-confort ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Filter Paper ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Serological Test ◽

Fluorescent Antibody ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Chagasi ◽

Blood Samples ◽

One Year

The Brazilian Ministry of Health recommends the culling and euthanasia of dogs with a positive serological test for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). In the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the technique used for the diagnosis of CVL is the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), using blood samples eluted on filter paper (eluate). A dog survey was conducted over a period of one year in the region of Carapiá, in order to evaluate the diagnosis of CVL in this region. All animals underwent clinical examination, and blood samples (serum and eluate) were collected for analysis by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and IFAT. A skin biopsy was obtained for parasitological examination (culture). A total of 305 animals were studied and Leishmania chagasi was isolated from nine animals. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 96.6% for ELISA, respectively, 100% and 65.5% for IFAT (cut-off at a 1:40 dilution), 100% and 83.4% for IFAT (cut-off at a 1:80 dilution), and 22.2% and 97.0% for eluate IFAT. In conclusion, ELISA was the best tool for the diagnosis of CVL among the serological techniques tested. The present results suggest the need for a better evaluation of filter paper IFAT as the only diagnostic method for CVL in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

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