An Integrated Approach Using Spatial Analysis to Study the Risk Factors for Leishmaniasis in Area of Recent Transmission

Abstract

Some epidemiological aspects of leishmaniasis in the municipality of Formiga, Brazil, an important touristic site, were evaluated. Those included phlebotomine sand fly vectors, canine infection, and geoprocessing analysis for determining critical transmission areas. Sand flies (224 insects) belonging to ten different species were captured. The most captured species included Lutzomyia longipalpis (35.3%), Lutzomyia cortelezzii (33.5%), and Lutzomyia whitmani (18.3%). A significant correlation between sand fly densities and climatic conditions was detected. Serological diagnosis (DPP and ELISA) was performed in 570 dogs indicating a prevalence of 5.8%. After sequencing the main species circulating in the area were Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis. Spatial analysis demonstrated that vegetation and hydrography may be related to sand fly distribution and infected dogs. The municipality of Formiga has proven leishmaniasis vectors and infected dogs indicating the circulation of the parasite in the city. Correlation of those data with environmental and human cases has identified the critical areas for control interventions (south, northeast, and northwest). In conclusion, there is current transmission of visceral and canine human cases and the city is on the risk for the appearance of cutaneous cases.

Multiscale environmental determinants of Leishmania vectors in the urban-rural context

“…longipalpis is persistent in time with most "hot spots" of steady abundance, while other sites with occurrence of Lu. longiplapis could appear-disappear due to microenvironment changes [42,[57][58][59][60]. Therefore, for modeling the vector "hot spot" abundance along time based on climatic variables (temperature, land surface temperature, and indirect related variables NDVI and NDWI) lag-times and seasonal associations should be considered [47,[61][62][63] instead of same day of capture data.…”

Evaluation of canine leishmaniasis and concomitant seropositivity for Babesia canis and rickettsia in a nonendemic area in the central west region of Minas Gerais

“…Dogs are important links in the transmission of the VL etiological agent and some studies have been conducted in the central west region of the state of Minas Gerais in order to better explain parasite dispersion in this region (Silva et al, 2008;Teixeira-Neto et al, 2014;Menezes et al, 2015;Faria et al, 2017).…”

Anticuerpos de Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania mexicana y Leishmania braziliensis en perros domiciliados de Tabasco, México

“…Monitoring of diseases such as Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis in pets, is of great importance (16), as animals like dogs, act as reservoirs of the parasite in endemic areas, and it is necessary to identify the movement of agents in order to prevent possible infection in humans (4 incrementos en la presentación de la enfermedad en los propietarios de las mascotas infectadas (8,17). La mayor convivencia de los animales domésticos con la población humana, demuestra una conexión entre el medio urbano -rural y peridoméstico, trayendo consigo diversas repercusiones en salud pública (22 …”

“…El ciclo biológico se desarrolla en dos formas evolutivas, uno transmitido por la picadura de un díptero flebótomo (vector) y otra en el hospedador (perros) que en muchas ocasiones actua como reservorio del parasito (4). De acuerdo con la importancia epidemiológica de los perros en la transmisión de la enfermedad de chagas como reservorios del parasito en las zonas endémicas, es fundamental conocer la prevalencia de la infección, como medida de vigilancia epidemiológica activa, para identificar la circulación del parasito antes de que este infecte a la población humana susceptible (5).…”