Environmental and Animal Characteristics as Factors Associated with American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Rural Locations with Presence of Dogs, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of dogs, other domesticated animals and environmental characteristics as risk factors in the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). A retrospective survey of cases of human ACL in the last ten years and visits to homes in rural locations were carried out in the municipality of Arapongas (southern Brazil) from 2008 to 2010. ACL in humans was significantly associated with a distance of up to 25 meters from the residence to a forest area (OR 5.08; 95% CI: 1.35–21.04), undergrowth area (OR 6.80; 95% CI: 1.69–45.33) and stream (OR 5.87; 95% CI: 1.15–24.59); banana plants near the residence (OR 5.98; 95% CI: 1.49–39.84), absence of ceiling below the roof in the residence (OR 7.30; 95% CI: 1.26–158.1), the dumping of trash in the forest area (OR 26.33; 95% CI: 7.32–93.46) and presence of ACL in dogs in the surrounding area (OR 4.39; 95% CI: 1.37–13.45). In dogs, ACL was associated with a distance of 25 to 50 meters and 51 to 100 meters, respectively, from the residence to a forest area (OR 2.59; 95% CI: 1.08–5.98; OR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.64–6.62), the presence of a stream up to 25 m from the residence (OR 6.23; 95% CI: 2.34–16.54) and banana plants near the residence (OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25–0.80). In the locations studied in the municipality of Arapongas (Brazil), the results reveal that canine infection increases the risk of human infection by ACL and the characteristics surrounding the residence increase the risk of infection in both humans and dogs. Thus, integrated environmental management could be a useful measure to avoid contact between humans and phlebotomines.

Leishmania in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus): new evidence for the urbanization of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

“…A recent study (CARVALHO et al, 2014) using ecological niche modeling predicts southward expansion of L. flaviscutellata in South America because of climate change. Several studies have investigated phlebotomine fauna in Paraná State (GOMES & GALATI, 1977;TEODORO et al, 1993;TEODORO et al, 1999;OLIVEIRA et al, 2000;DIAS-SVERSUTTI et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2008;CERINO et al, 2009;REIS et al, 2011;CRUZ et al, 2012;SANTOS et al, 2012;MEMBRIVE et al, 2012;CRUZ et al, 2013;MELO et al, 2013); none reported L. (L.) amazonensis vectors. Taking into account two autochthonous cases (one human and one canine) of leishmaniasis by L. (L.) amazonensis in North Paraná, more studies about phlebotomine fauna must be made in this region, now using Disney traps with rodents as baits (DORVAL et al, 2007), because L. flaviscutellata is strongly attracted to rodents (LAINSON & SHAW, 1968;SHAW & LAINSON, 1972;CARVALHO et al, 2014).…”

“…The primary reservoirs of ACL disease-causing agents are small mammals, particularly wild rodents (BRANDÃO-FILHO et al, 2003;DANTAS-TORRES et al, 2010;ROQUE & JANSEN, 2014). Although ACL maintains a rural disease profile, its occurrence can also be found in urban areas; this is especially true with remaining forest or vegetation corridors associated with the local hydrography, and with primary and secondary riparian forests (NEGRÃO & FERREIRA, 2009;MEMBRIVE et al, 2012;CONSTANTINO et al, 2014).…”

Seroepidemiology of Leishmania spp. in dogs residing in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná, Brazil

“…In Arapongas, Paraná, Membrive et al (2012) observed that a 25 to 100 m distance between a residence and forest area, up to 25 ms between a residence and stream, and up to 10 m between a residence and banana tree orchard were risk factors for ATL in rural dogs. They also found that canine infection increased the risk of human ATL, and certain environmental factors surrounding the home increased the risk of infection in both humans and dogs, which indicates the importance of integrated environmental management measures to avoid contact between humans and sandflies.…”

“…In the state of Paraná, the prevalence varies from 6.7% to 56.7 %% (ZANZARINI et al, 2005) in dogs residing in the rural northern part of the state; the prevalence is 3.1 (DIAS et al, 2013) to 22.8% (PITTNER et al, 2009) in pet dogs and 26.7% in stray dogs in other regions of the state (PITTNER et al, 2009). The prevalence is associated with infection by Leishmania species responsible for ATL (LONARDONI et al, 2006;MEMBRIVE et al, 2012;PITTNER et al, 2009;REIS et al, 2011;ZULPO et al, 2012) and visceral forms (DIAS et al, 2013;THOMAZ-SOCCOL et al, 2009) of the disease. Reis et al (2011) found 222 (45.4%) seropositive dogs by IIF among 489 examined in the municipality of Bela Vista do Paraíso, Paraná.…”

Factores de riesgo ambientales en la transmisión de la leishmaniasis cutánea en una zona endémica del Estado de Tabasco.

“…(17) La existencia de viviendas independientes es un factor de protección, esto apoya la condición de que el tipo de vivienda interconectada es mucho más común en las áreas rurales. Todos los individuos encuestados contaban con el servicio de luz eléctrica, sin embargo para los casos la iluminación de la casa era inadecuada en una tercera parte; un 80% cuenta con el servicio de agua entubada, pero solo la mitad de ellos cuenta con drenaje.…”