The geographic information system approach has permitted integration between demographic, socio-economic and environmental data, providing In the 1990s, an increasing capacity of data analysis and ease of information accessibility through cheap and simple computational systems was remarkable. Such technology represents a breakthrough in data bank organization, mainly regarding health.Geoprocessing is a broad term that is applied to several technologies of manipulation and processing of geographical data through computational programs. System of geographical information (SGI) is one of the geoprocessing techniques, the most widely used, once it gathers organized data at the stages of data capture by remote sensing, GPS or organization of digital cartographic basis, and organizes systems, which are able to obtain new information and improve knowledge. SGI comprises computational systems used for understanding facts and phenomena that occur in the geographical space. Its capacity of gathering data sets of conventional spatial expression, structuring and integrating them adequately, makes it an essential tool for manipulating geographical information (Pina 1994).Applications of SGI in the field of health have been reported in studies on epidemiological surveys, health service assessment, urbanization, and environment. Moreover, evaluation of endemic diseases from the perspective of several elements involved in the transmission cycle, such as historical, environmental, and social determinants of disease foci, became easier with Geoprocessing techniques (Sabroza et al. 1992, Albuquerque 1993, Thomson & Connor 2000.Geoprocessing technology has enabled scientists to map vectors and analyze environmental factors that affect spatial and temporal distribution of insects. Such techniques have been used to monitor diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniases (Elnaiem et al. 1998, Thomson & Connor 2000.American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been studied through geoprocessing techniques by several investigators: Cross et al. (1996), by gathering data from 136 scientific papers, have generated a distribution model of Phlebotomus papatasi in Southeast Asia throughout the year. By using satellite images and field-collected data in Sudan, Elnaiem et al. (1998Elnaiem et al. ( , 2003 and Thomson et al. (1999) observed that several ecological factors are crucial for the presence of Phlebotomus orientalis, the vector of VL in that country. Kawa and Sabroza (2002) and Werneck and Maguire (2002) have analyzed historical and spatial determinants, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Teresina, state of Piauí, Brazil, respectively, for implementation, maintenance, and spread of ACL and their correlation with urban organization and occupation in the periphery of those cities. Hay et al. (1997), Connor et al. (1998), andKing et al. (2004) Therefore, data collection through geoprocessing techniques has contributed to monitor and specially to identify effective and priority contro...

The Amazonian environment is changing rapidly, due to deforestation, in the short term, and, climatic change is projected to alter its forest cover, in the next few decades. These modifications to the, environment have been altering the dynamics of infectious diseases which have natural foci in the, Amazonian biome, especially in its forest. Current land use practices which are changing the, epidemiological profile of the parasitic diseases in the region are road building; logging; mining; expansion of agriculture and cattle ranching and the building of large dams. Malaria and the cutaneous, leishmaniasis are the diseases best known for their rapid changes in response to environmental, modifications. Others such as soil-transmitted helminthiases, filarial infections and toxoplasmosis, which have part of their developmental cycles in the biophysical environment, are also expected to, change rapidly. An interdisciplinary approach and an integrated, international surveillance are needed, to manage the environmentally-driven changes in the Amazonian parasitic diseases in the near future.

Vulnerability, understood as the propensity to be adversely affected, has attained importance in the context of climate change by helping to understand what makes populations and territories predisposed to its impacts. Conditions of vulnerability may vary depending on the characteristics of each territory studied—social, environmental, infrastructural, public policies, among others. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate what makes the municipalities of the state of Amazonas, Brazil, vulnerable to climate change in the context of the largest tropical forest in the world, and which regions of the State are the most susceptible. A Municipal Vulnerability Index was developed, which was used to associate current socio-environmental characteristics of municipalities with climate change scenarios in order to identify those that may be most affected by climate change. The results showed that poor adaptive capacity and poverty had the most influence on current vulnerability of the municipalities of Amazonas with the most vulnerable areas being the southern, northern, and eastern regions of the state. When current vulnerability was related to future climate change projections, the most vulnerable areas were the northern, northeastern, extreme southern, and southwestern regions. From a socio-environmental and climatic point of view, these regions should be a priority for public policy efforts to reduce their vulnerability and prepare them to cope with the adverse aspects of climate change.

The potential of Gafanhoto Park as an American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) focus was evaluated by examination of sand ßy vectors of the Leishmania parasite. This forest remnant is located in a periurban area of Divinó polis, Brazil, where autochthonous cases of ACL have been reported. Sand ßy populations were monitored over a 2-yr period (2006 Ð2008) by using light traps (HP and Shannon). During systematic collections with HP traps, 824 specimens in total (342 males and 482 females) of 21 species were captured. Most prevalent species were as follows: Brumptomyia brumpti (Larrouse), Lutzomyia aragaoi (Costa Lima), Lutzomyia lutziana (Costa Lima), Lutzomyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte), and Lutzomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho). Using Shannon traps, 257 specimens representing 15 species were collected (159 females and 98 males), with a high prevalence of L. whitmani and Lutzomyia neivai (Pinto), both vectors of Leishmania braziliensis (Vianna). To ascertain the level of natural infection, a sample of females captured in Shannon traps was assayed for the presence of Leishmania by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, where 39% of insects were positive. The most infected species was L. whitmani (29 sand ßies; 18.2%), followed by L. neivai (21; 13.2%), Lutzomyia christenseni (Young & Duncan) (Þve; 3.1%), Lutzomyia pessoai (Coutinho & Barreto) (three; 1.9%), L. aragaoi (one; 0.6%), Lutzomyia fischeri (Pinto) (one; 0.6%), Lutzomyia lenti (Mangabeira) (one; 0.6%), L. lutziana (one; 0.6%), and Lutzomyia monticula (Costa Lima) (one; 0.6%). The Þnding of potential and incriminated vectors naturally infected with Leishmania reinforces the need of epidemiologic surveillance in the area.

answered a quantitative questionnaire; 49.5% were seropositive for immunoglobulin (Ig) G and 3.6% for IgM. Comparative analysis of congenital toxoplasmosis cases were evaluated in 11 regions and showed an irregular distribution (p < 0.01). This difference was also observed among the pregnant women observed in each location. The results from the questionnaire show that 93% of the pregnant women had no knowledge about toxoplasmosis, and 24% presented with positive serology, but no clinical manifestation. Analysis for pregnant IgG-positive women and the presence of pets showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.05), suggesting that the transmission of this disease might occur in the domestic environment. Conclusions: We suggest the implementation of a triage program for pregnant women and health education to encourage their use of SUS services.

The results demonstrate that the population has low levels of knowledge about leishmaniasis. Moreover, the majority of respondents are subject to some peridomiciliary risk factor, which may contribute to the maintenance of the disease cycle in the city.

Background. Leishmaniases are diseases with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations including cutaneous (CL) and visceral (VL) forms. Many factors may affect their occurrence and expansion including environmental, geographic, and social conditions. In the past two decades, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, has exhibited the potential for a disease outbreak, with the appearance of CL, and VL cases (human and canine). Hence, this study was initiated to monitor public knowledge of the disease. Questionnaires were administered in four neighborhoods (Jardim Belvedere, Esplanada, Danilo Passos I and II) where most of the human and canine cases have been reported. The analyses demonstrated that public knowledge of the disease is sparse and fragmented. A strong perception of the dog as the main reservoir was observed. Five veterinary clinics were evaluated for the presence of canine VL using serological (RIFI and ELISA) and molecular (PCR-RFLP) techniques. This is the first study demonstrating the occurrence of Leishmania infantum in Divinópolis, suggesting a possible urbanization of VL.

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