A leishmaniose visceral é uma zoonose de grande relevância na saúde coletiva devido à sua heterogeneidade epidemiológica, alta letalidade em pacientes não tratados e soroprevalência 1 . O controle da doença tem sido realizado pela adoção de três medidas básicas: o tratamento dos casos humanos, a eutanásia de cães soropositivos e a redução da população de vetores, através da aplicação de inseticida nos domicílios situados em área endêmica 2,3 .Mas, apesar dos esforços, a leishmaniose visceral tem aumentado significativamente sua importância no contexto epidemiológico em decorrência do processo de urbanização e das alterações no ambiente natural 4 . A forte relação apresentada pela ocorrência da leishmaniose visceral e os perfis cultural, nutricional e sócio-econômico da população atingida, remetem a questão do controle para além das barreiras pertencentes ao contexto ambiental em que a doença está inserida 5 .Em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, a leishmaniose visceral tem-se expandido mesmo com uso de grande recurso financeiro e humano no seu controle. Durante seu recente histórico na cidade (iniciado em 1992) a doença alcançou altos coeficientes de morbidade e letalidade nas populações atingidas 4,6,7,8 .Segundo Dias 9 , o êxito das estratégias contra as doenças endêmicas depende basicamen-

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About 97% of the human cases of the American visceral leishmaniasis (VL) occur in Brazil. In the last few years, the disease expanded to medium- and large-sized cities, in which surveillance and control actions have been intensified, in an effort to control VL spreading. Our two-year study was conducted in Belo Horizonte, the sixth most populous city in Brazil, which is endemic for VL. We focused in two particular districts of recent transmission of the disease, with no reported human cases and submitted to minor surveillance and control actions. Our aim was to draw an epidemiological profile of the local situation concerning Lutzomyia vector, Leishmania parasites, and the main domestic reservoirs (dogs). Lutzomyia longipalpis comprised 96.5% of the total phlebotomine sand flies captured and displayed an expressive minimal infection rate by Leishmania infantum (16.7%). Positive correlations were found between the population densities of L. longipalpis, rainfall and temperature. L. infantum was also detected in the cortelezzii complex and, for the first time, in Lutzomyia lloydi. Leishmania braziliensis, an etiological agent of the American cutaneous leishmaniasis, was also identified in L. longipalpis. Among the 1408 dogs serologically tested by standard enzyme-linked and fluorescence immune assays (ELISA/IFA) 3.6% were positive for VL. L. infantum DNA and Leishmania parasites were identified in 100% and 72.5% of the seropositive dogs, respectively. The co-positivity of other diagnostic tests for VL-Leishmania-nested PCR, imprint and myeloculture-was compared to the standard serology. Both symptomatic or asymptomatic dogs displayed an equal average number of positive diagnostic tests for VL. The districts studied display favorable conditions for the rapid spreading of human infection, in terms of L. longipalpis population density, and presence of L. infantum in both vector and main reservoir.

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The aim of this paper is to report a brief history of control actions for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) from 2006 to 2010 in the Sanitary District (DS) of Venda Nova, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing on the use of information systems and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The analyses showed that the use of an automated database allied with geoprocessing tools may favor control measures of VL, especially with regard to the evaluation of control actions carried out. Descriptive analyses of control measures allowed to evaluating that the information system and GIS tools promoted greater efficiency in making decisions and planning activities. These analyses also pointed to the necessity of new approaches to the control of VL in large urban centers.