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. 2020:53:e20190525.
doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0525-2019. Epub 2020 May 18.

Spatial and seroepidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic Southeast Brazilian area

Tamiris Fagundes Rodrigues  1 , Aline do Nascimento Benitez  2 , Anaiá da Paixão Sevá  3 , Lucas Hidenori Okamura  4 , André Batista Galvão  4 , Jancarlo Ferreira Gomes  2 , Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani  4 , Tereza Cristina Cardoso  4
Affiliations

Spatial and seroepidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic Southeast Brazilian area

Tamiris Fagundes Rodrigues et al. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2020.

Abstract

Introduction: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a public health problem, and its prevalence is associated with the coexistence of vectors and reservoirs. CVL is a protozoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum that is endemic in the southeast region of Brazil. Thus, vector and canine reservoir control strategies are needed to reduce its burden. This study aimed to verify the CVL seroprevalence and epidemiology in a municipality in Southeast Brazil to initiate disease control strategies.

Methods: A total of 833 dogs were subjected to Dual Path Platform (DPP) testing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. For seropositive dogs, epidemiological aspects were investigated using a questionnaire and a global position system. The data were submitted to simple logistic regression, kernel estimation, and Bernoulli spatial scan statistical analysis.

Results: The overall CVL-confirmed seroprevalence was 16.08%. The 28.93% in the DPP screening test was associated with dogs maintained in backyards with trees, shade, animal and/or bird feces, and contact with other dogs and cats, with sick dogs showing the highest chances of infection (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.38-1.98), especially in residences with elderly people. A spatial analysis identified two hotspot regions and detected two clusters in the study area.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that residences with elderly people and the presence of trees, shade, feces, and pet dogs and cats increased an individual's risk of developing CVL. The major regions where preventive strategies for leishmaniasis were to be initiated in the endemic area were identified in two clusters.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1:
FIGURE 1:. Piacatu location, São Paulo state, Brazil (2014). Representative pictures revealing a close view of the studied area location (dark grey) and Marechal Rondon highway and Brazil-Bolivia gas pipeline. Areas: (A) of infected dogs, (B) of infected humans, and (C) where Lutzomyia longipalpis vectors were found.
FIGURE 2:
FIGURE 2:. Spatial analysis of CVL in Piacatu, São Paulo, Brazil (2014). (A) Kernel estimate of dog seropositive population density by CVL. (B) Dog seronegative population density by CVL. Red indicates relatively high CVL risk, blue indicates relatively low risk. (C) Clusters (white circles with arrows head) of CVL risks inside Piacatu constructed based on high-high correlation of analyzed variables. CVL, canine visceral leishmaniasis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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