Risk factors associated to canine visceral leishmaniasis in Uruguaiana city, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in areas with higher seroprevalence of it in Uruguaiana city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, during the year of 2012. A semi-structured questionnaire with socioeconomic and environmental questions was applied in Leishmania endemic regions of the city. The survey data were analyzed by multivariate statistics and the associations between them were presented as odds ratio within a 95% confidence limit. The relationships between the studied variables showed no statistically significant difference between the dwellings with positive and negative dogs. However, when analyzing the odds ratio, the presence of green areas larger than 10m² turned the house into an area of potential risk for CVL (OR= 2.53). There was no difference among the socioeconomic variables education and income, though the groups with lower education and income showed a higher seroprevalence of CVL. The city of Uruguaiana is already located within the CVL broadcasting area and is taken as an endemic region of the disease, with seropositive dogs in all neighborhoods. Thus, the determinants for an increased Leishmania sp. infection could not be indicated, even so, the maintenance of green areas around the households represented a risk factor for being a potential vector shelter. Key words: Neglected disease. Epidemiology. Environment. Socioeconomic factors. ResumoO objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar potenciais fatores de risco associados à ocorrência de leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC) em áreas de maior prevalência no município de Uruguaiana/RS, no ano de 2012. Foram aplicados questionários semiestruturados com questões socioeconômicas e ambientais em bairros endêmicos para LVC no município de Uruguaiana. Os dados foram analisados por meio de análise multivariada e as associações entre as variáveis foram expressas em odds ratio com intervalos de confiança de 95%. As relações entre as variáveis estudadas não apresentaram diferença estatística significativa quando se comparou residências com cães positivos àquelas com cães negativos. Entretanto, a presença de área verde maior que 10m² apresentou-se como um potencial fator de risco (OR= 2,53) para LVC. Não houve diferença significativa entre as variáveis socioeconômicas, escolaridade e renda embora, nos grupos de menor escolaridade e de menor renda familiar, tenha havido

Applications of polymerase chain reaction for the detection of equine Leishmania sp. infection

“…After vector identification and characterization of L. infantum-infected dog samples, the disease was observed to spread rapidly in Uruguaiana. All neighborhoods have CVL confirmed cases, and it has consequently been concluded that the vector has been maintained since then (Deboni et al, 2011;Escobar et al, 2018). Our study detected L. infantum DNA in equines from seven neighborhoods of Uruguaiana that were known to be the endemic foci of CVL, as notified by the Sanitary Surveillance of the Uruguaiana municipality.…”

“…Southern region was free of VL and canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) until the last decade when the first cases were identified. Rio Grande do Sul's western border witnessed the identification of seropositive dogs in several neighborhoods, including riverside and continental locations (Escobar et al, 2018) and was therefore, classified as a VL transmission area since 2008 (Deboni, Barbosa, & Ramos, 2011).…”

Identification of Leishmania spp. in horses and a dog from rural areas of Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…Dogs are the domestic reservoir for L. infantum in endemic areas, and contribute significantly to the maintenance of infection, mainly in urban areas (Dantas-Torres, 2007). In Uruguaiana, canine disease is widespread in virtually all neighborhoods, which fortifies the endemicity of CVL in this region (Escobar et al, 2018). Another important fact is the presence of Leishmania spp.…”

“…CVL is considered to be endemic in urban areas of Uruguaiana, being identified in dogs in all neighborhoods (Escobar et al, 2018). However, L. infantum infection in rural areas has not been reported until now.…”

WITHDRAWN: Epidemiological characterization of Leishmaniasis in the rural area of the western border region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…In Uruguaiana, it was observed a 39,06% (75 of 192 samples) of infected horses in urban area from 10 neighborhood using molecular biology technique [13]. In relation to dog from urban areas, 57.48% (261 of 454) were con rmed positive by the team of the LACEN -RS (Rio Grande do Sul -RS, Central Laboratory) through serological tests [22]. It was possible to note that, in rural areas of the city the frequency of positive animals is still lower than urban areas.…”