Dados do Trabalho

Título

ECO-EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN AN ENDEMIC AREA OF THE NORTHEAST REGION, PERNAMBUCO, RECIFE, BRAZIL

Introdução

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is considered a disease of great dermatological importance for Public Health. In Brazil, are reported autochthonous cases in all states, and Pernambuco (PE) State has a prevalence of 30%.

Objetivo(s)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the disease transmission’s cycle through the eco-epidemiology of CL in an ancient colonization endemic area. It was evaluated through the identification of autochthonous cases, characterization of the sandfly fauna, domestic reservoirs, and identification of of Leishmania’s species involved.

Material e Métodos

Almost 170 suspected patients of CL have participated on the study and 272 domestic animals, all from an endemic area of the Municipality of Moreno-PE. Animals and humans were from both sex, and various race and age. The animals belonged to the species Canis familiaris (n=212), Felis catus (n=21), Eqqus caballus/Eqqus asinus (n=33), Capra aegagrus hircus (n=5) and Ovis aries (n=1). Phlebotomine sandflies were captured inside and outside the home. The years of age from human sample ranged from 5 to 74 years. The majority of them was male, with brown skin, professionally active, and with a low level of education.

Resultados e Conclusão

Of the 85 patients submitted to lesion edge scraping, 25.6% were positive on smears for CL and 34 isolates were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, a species circulating in the region. Confirmation of human cases by PCR was statistically significant. The Kappa test was performed on PCR to measure the concordance index between biopsy and lesion swab samples with a value of 60.8% and p<0.001. Of the 272 domestic animals studied, 168 were males and 104 were females. Among these, 31 had lesions and 29 were dogs, one cat, one sheep and all were positive by qPCR. More than 200 specimens of sandflies (80 males and 159 females) were captured and identified as Lutzomyia whitmani (99.6%) and Lutzomyia evandroi (0.4%). Among the females of Lu. whitmani, 92.6% (n=60) were infected with Leishmania (V.) braziliensis detected by qPCR. These results suggest the participation of domestic animals as possible reservoirs. However, further studies are necessary to better understand the transmission cycle and to take measures recommendations to control the disease.

Palavras-chave

Eco-epidemiology. Transmission cycle. Laboratory and clinical diagnosis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania (V.) braziliensis.