ObjectiveThe present study aimed to evaluate the presence of helminthes and intestinal protozoa in vegetables commercialized in Diamantina, a municipality located at Jequitinhonha Valley, one of the poorest regions of the world. MethodsA total of 108 specimens, including lettuce, green onion and rocket, were monthly collected from the most popular open street market, green grocery and supermarket of the municipality. The samples were processed by a concentration method and evaluated by light microscopy for parasitological identification. ResultsThe percentage of contamination was 50.9% (55/108), with predominance of nematode larvae (36.5%), cysts of Entamoeba coli (26.0%) and eggs of hookworms/Strongyloides spp. (12.9%). Lettuce showed greater contamination rate (61.1%) and samples from the open street market were more contaminated (77.8%). Information collected at each point of sale pointed the field cultivation as the critical step for such contaminations. ConclusionVegetables marketed in Diamantina presents a wide variety of intestinal parasites, which may represent a potential risk to the health of consumers of fresh vegetables.Keywords: Foodborne diseases. Helminthiasis. Parasites. Vegetables. R E S U M O Objetivo O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de helmintos e protozoários intestinais em hortaliças comercializados em Diamantina, um município localizado no Vale do Jequitinhonha, uma das regiões mais pobres do mundo. Métodos Cento e oito exemplares, incluindo alface, cebolinha e rúcula, foram mensalmente coletados em uma feira livre, uma quitanda e um supermercado do município. As amostras foram processadas por um método de concentração e avaliadas por microscopia óptica para pesquisa de estruturas parasitárias. Resultados

Reports of triatomine infestation in urban areas have increased. We analysed the spatial distribution of infestation by triatomines in the urban area of Diamantina, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Triatomines were obtained by community-based entomological surveillance. Spatial patterns of infestation were analysed by Ripley’s K function and Kernel density estimator. Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land cover derived from satellite imagery were compared between infested and uninfested areas. A total of 140 adults of four species were captured (100 Triatoma vitticeps, 25Panstrongylus geniculatus, 8 Panstrongylus megistus, and 7 Triatoma arthurneivai specimens). In total, 87.9% were captured within domiciles. Infection by trypanosomes was observed in 19.6% of 107 examined insects. The spatial distributions ofT. vitticeps, P. geniculatus, T. arthurneivai, and trypanosome-positive triatomines were clustered, occurring mainly in peripheral areas. NDVI values were statistically higher in areas infested by T. vitticeps and P. geniculatus. Buildings infested by these species were located closer to open fields, whereas infestations of P. megistus andT. arthurneivai were closer to bare soil. Human occupation and modification of natural areas may be involved in triatomine invasion, exposing the population to these vectors.

This study aimed to analyse the spatial distribution of human (2007-2013) and canine (2013) visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the city of Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and identify the socio-environmental factors related to their occurrence. The spatial distribution of human and canine cases was analysed by kernel density estimation (KDE) and the K function. The KDE values were analysed for correlation between human and canine LV and for normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). Socio-environmental aspects of household structures and surroundings were evaluated. The spatial distribution of human and canine VL cases exhibited a significant aggregated pattern in distances greater than 350 and 75 m, respectively. The higher occurrence of human and canine infection occurred in the central area of the city. A positive correlation between the densities of human and canine cases was observed, as well as a negative correlation between NDVI and densities of human and canine cases. Socio-environmental analysis revealed that the large amount of animals, organic material from trees and deficiencies in environmental sanitation are possibly contributing to the continuation of the transmission cycle of Leishmania infantum in Araçuaí. These results can contribute to the planning by competent agencies to reduce the incidence of infection in the city.

The Brazilian municipality of Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso State, represents an important visceral leishmaniasis (VL) endemic area. This study described epidemiological and clinical aspects of the occurrence, VL/HIV coinfection and lethality related to VL in Rondonópolis. Data from autochthonous cases reported between 2011 and 2016 were obtained from official information systems. During this period, 81 autochthonous cases were reported, with decreasing incidence through 2016. Contrastingly, the lethality rate was 8.6% overall, but varied widely, reaching a peak (20%) in 2016. Almost 10% of patients had VL/HIVcoinfection. The occurrence of VL prevailed among men (56.8%), brown-skinned (49.4%), urban residents (92.6%), aged 0-4 years (33.3%). Housewives or retired (29.6%) were the most affected occupational groups. Lower age was the main difference among the total VL cases and those who were coinfected or died. Clinically, fever, weakness and splenomegaly were more frequent among all VL cases and VL/HIV coinfected individuals. Bacterial infections (p=0.001) and bleeding (p<0.001) were associated with death due to VL. Pentavalent antimonial and liposomal amphotericin B were the first choices for treatment among all VL cases (71.6%) and those who died (71.4%), respectively. VL/HIV patients were equally treated with both drugs. These findings may support control measures and demonstrate the need for further investigations.

The Brazilian municipality of Rondonópolis is an emerging urban focus of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), where few investigations have addressed canine reservoirs. This study assessed the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the urban area of Rondonópolis. A CVL serosurvey was conducted between October 2016 and February 2017 using an immunochromatographic rapid test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Domestic dogs were sampled from 25 heterogeneous regions previously defined by the Spatial 'K'luster Analysis by Tree Edge Removal algorithm, which considered the socioeconomic and environmental features from the last demographic census. The CVL spatial distribution was analyzed by kernel density estimation (KDE) and spatial scan statistic. All the  autochthonous human VL cases reported between 2014 and 2016 were georeferenced. Of the 600 dogs tested, 115 were seropositive in both tests. The overall CVL prevalence was 19.2% (95%CI: 16.1-22.3%), which varied widely among the evaluated regions (0.0-35.1%). Almost 25% of the sampled households (n = 405) had at least one infected dog. KDE demonstrated that positive CVL households were concentrated in the peripheral areas of the city. Spatial scan statistics detected a spatial cluster with significantly low CVL prevalence in the central region (relative risk = 0.37; p = 0.04), where only one human VL case was reported. Thus, we demonstrated a high prevalence of CVL in domestic dogs from diverse socioeconomic and environmental urban contexts in Rondonópolis. The CVL cases were peripherally distributed and occurred more frequently in areas that had reported human VL.

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O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar as áreas de ocorrência e avaliar aspectos epidemiológicos da Leishmaniose Visceral humana e canina nos 33 municípios pertencentes à Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Diamantina no período de 2007 a 2012. Foram coletados dados de notificação dos casos de Leishmaniose Visceral humana, disponibilizados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos e de Notificação, e dados de exames sorológicos provenientes de inquéritos caninos registrados em livros da Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Diamantina. No período avaliado foram notificados 79 casos da Leishmaniose Visceral humana, sendo a ocorrência mais comum entre pessoas com idade inferior a 10 anos e igual ou acima de 60 anos, do sexo masculino, residentes em áreas rurais. Araçuaí foi o município que apresentou maior número de notificações da Leishmaniose Visceral humana, sendo classificado como área de transmissão intensa. Quanto à Leishmaniose Visceral canina, 17 municípios enviaram amostras de sangue para realização dos exames e todos apresentaram pelo menos um cão soropositivo. Foi verificado que alguns municípios notificaram a Leishmaniose Visceral em humanos e em cães, outros, notificaram a infecção apenas em cães ou em pessoas e ainda, municípios que não apresentaram nenhuma notificação no período avaliado. Entre os municípios estudados foi possível observar a condução diferenciada da vigilância da Leishmaniose Visceral. Sendo atualmente responsabilidade direta da esfera municipal, cabe ao nível regional orientar e fiscalizar os gestores nas ações de controle de acordo com a situação epidemiológica.