Dataset Information

Ecoepidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in the Steel Valley in Brazil: An ecological approach with spatial analysis.

ABSTRACT: Leishmaniases are a group of infectious diseases transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, and their distribution depends on the presence of vectors, parasites, reservoirs and susceptible hosts in the same environment. In the last decades, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become urbanized and reached economically important cities in countries within the transmission zone. Our study was conducted in one of those cities-Ipatinga-in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the first autochthonous case of VL dates back to 2011. Since no data regarding the epidemiological triad of VL (etiological agent/vector/domestic reservoir) were available for this city, we characterized the local entomological fauna, identified the presence of specific Leishmania DNA in the captured phlebotomine sand flies, and assessed the incidence of canine and human VL. For the entomological survey, we set twenty light traps in ten districts of the city with reports of human and canine VL. The insect captures were performed monthly, during one year, starting in March 2015. A total of 1501 specimens of phlebotomine sand flies belonging to 16 distinct species were captured, with predominance (61.9%) of Lutzomyia longipalpis. Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in L. longipalpis and in Evandromyia cortelezzii test samples. A total of 9,136 dogs were examined, 1,355 of which (14.8%) were serologically positive for VL. The cases were georeferenced and the data were plotted in thematic maps, along with human cases of VL registered by the local Department of Health, during the study period. Our results confirm that the VL transmission cycle is active in Ipatinga, with the presence of vectors carrying Leishmania DNA, canine and human cases of the disease. Spatial analysis allowed for the observation of a positive relationship between canine and human cases of VL and the identification of areas with high priority for control actions in the city. The mapping of high-risk areas, together with an epidemiological study in urban areas, is fundamental to improve the efficacy of the Program for Surveillance and Control of VL (PSCVL) in Brazil.

SUBMITTER: Lana RS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6207327 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ecoepidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in the Steel Valley in Brazil: An ecological approach with spatial analysis.

Lana Rosana S RS Michalsky Érika M ÉM Lopes Lívia O LO Lara-Silva Fabiana O FO Nascimento Jeiza L JL Pinheiro Letícia C LC França-Silva João C JC Mendes Telma S C TSC Fortes-Dias Consuelo L CL Dias Edelberto S ES

PloS one 20181030 10

Leishmaniases are a group of infectious diseases transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, and their distribution depends on the presence of vectors, parasites, reservoirs and susceptible hosts in the same environment. In the last decades, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become urbanized and reached economically important cities in countries within the transmission zone. Our study was conducted in one of those cities-Ipatinga-in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the first autochthonous case ...[more]

PMID: 30376577

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Project description:The aims of the study were to determine the blood feeding preferences of sandflies and to identify species of Leishmania that infected phlebotomines in Caxias, Maranhão, Brazil, an area that is highly endemic for leishmaniasis. Sandflies were captured in light traps located in the peridomiciliary environments of randomly selected houses in urban and rural settings between 1800 and 0600 hours on new moon days between March 2013 and February 2015. DNA extracts from 982 engorged female sandflies were submitted to fragment length polymorphism analysis to identify infecting species of Leishmania, and blood sources were identified for 778 of these specimens. Infection by Leishmania infantum was detected in Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lu. whitmani and Lu. termitophila; L. infantum/L. braziliensis in Lu. longipalpis, Lu. whitmani and Lu. trinidadensis; L. shawi in Lu. longipalpis; L. mexicana in Lu. longipalpis; L. braziliensis in Lu. longipalpis and Lu. whitmani; L. guyanensis in Lu. longipalpis and Lu. termitophila; L. amazonensis in Lu. longipalpis and L. lainsoni or L. naiffi in Lu. longipalpis, while Lu. longipalpis and Lu. trinidadensis were infected with unidentified Leishmania sp. Blood sources were identified in 573 individual phlebotomines and the preferred hosts were, in decreasing order, chicken, dog, rodent and human with lower preferences for pig, horse, opossum and cattle. Lu. longipalpis and Lu. whitmani performed mixed feeding on man, dog and rodent, while Lu. longipalpis was the most opportunistic species, feeding on the blood of all hosts surveyed, but preferably on dog/chicken, dog/rodent and rodent/chicken. Our findings reveal the concomitant circulation of Leishmania species that cause visceral leishmaniasis and tegumentary leishmaniasis in the study area, and explain the occurrence of autochthonous human cases of both clinical forms of leishmaniasis in Caxias, Maranhão. The results support our hypothesis that, in the municipality of Caxias, transmission of Leishmania occurs in close proximity to humans.

Project description:Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important public health challenge in Brazil because of the high number of human and canine cases reported annually. Leishmania infantum is the etiological agent of VL and Lutzomyia longipalpis is its main vector. However, evidence suggests that this taxon constitutes a species complex. In Sao Paulo state, there are two populations of Lu. longipalpis, each secreting distinct pheromones, (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B and Cembrene 1; both have been associated with different patterns of VL transmission. The aim of the present study was to investigate the temporal distribution and natural infection of the (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B population of the Lu. longipalpis complex in a highly VL endemic area of Sao Paulo state to obtain information that may contribute to the surveillance of this zoonosis and to the planning of preventive and control measures.The study was carried out in Panorama municipality, Sao Paulo State. Captures were made during 24 months in seven domiciles. The relation between sand fly abundance and climatic variables, temperature and humidity, was analyzed and natural infection by Leishmania spp. in sand fly females was investigated by nested PCR.A total of 4120 sand flies, with predominance of Lu. longipalpis (97.2%) were captured. The highest averages of sand flies/night/trap occurred in the rainy season (November-March) and a positive, significant correlation between sand fly abundance and the temperature and humidity 20 days before the capture days was found. Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in three out of 250 pools of females analyzed, giving an estimated minimum infection rate of 1.2%.The identification of the climatic association between the high abundance of the vector in this highly endemic VL focus constitutes a fundamental point for evaluating future vector and dog control measures and this information increases the data of VL foci in Sao Paulo state that could contribute to the public health authorities in planning prevention and control measures. The identification of natural infection by Le. infantum in Lu. longipalpis specimens reinforces the importance of entomological surveillance activities in this municipality.

Dataset Information

Ecoepidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in the Steel Valley in Brazil: An ecological approach with spatial analysis.

Publications

Ecoepidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in the Steel Valley in Brazil: An ecological approach with spatial analysis.

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