Public Knowledge about and Detection of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Urban Divinópolis, Brazil

Abstract

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.

Awareness of visceral leishmaniasis and its relationship to canine infection in riverside endemic areas in Northeastern Brazil

“…The interviewees were generally aware that transmission occurs through an insect bite; however, they failed to identify the sand fl y as a vector. Similar results were observed in a survey conducted in Divinópolis, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in which approximately one-half of the population interviewed was unaware of how VL was transmitted, and only 29% knew of the necessity for an insect bite 18 .…”

“…The riverside areas in this study included favorable conditions for sand fl ies and dogs infected with L. infantum; thus, we assumed that this population is vulnerable to VL, as confi rmed by previous surveys 20, 21 . The interviewees had very limited knowledge of the measures to prevent the disease, as observed in other surveys performed in the country 18,22 . Although there was no signifi cant association with the CVL test results, these data remain relevant.…”

Leishmanioses: o conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde em área endêmica

“…O município constitui-se em um pólo da região centro-oeste do estado, destacandose nos campos industrial e comercial -vestuário e siderurgia -o que exerce forte poder de atração sobre os municípios vizinhos (19) . Historicamente, a cidade foi uma região endêmica para a doença e apresentou um surto epidêmico de LTA, entre os anos de 1989 e 1990, em que o número de casos humanos passou de 29 para 79 por ano, respectivamente (15,20) . Posteriormente, surgiram os casos de LV nos anos de 2009 e 2010.…”

“…A LV é uma manifestação mais recente, tendo sido registrado 15 casos da doença no mesmo período (13) . Estudos no município demonstraram desconhecimento da população e dos professores acerca das leishmanioses, verificando-se fragmentação do saber ao considerar o contexto científico da enfermidade (15,16) .…”

“…Também foi relatada no local a existência de flebotomíneos, vetores naturalmente infectados, em fragmentos de matas no perímetro urbano (14,17) e alta prevalência de leishmaniose canina (15) . Diante do exposto, se percebe que a situação endêmica do município requer ações preventivas efetivas da equipe de saúde para conter o aumento do número de casos da doença em Divinópolis.…”