Leishmaniose visceral canina e humana em Caruaru, Pernambuco, no período de 2005 a 2010 / Canine and human visceral leishmaniasis at Caruaru, Brazil, in the period 2005 to 2010

A leishmaniose visceral é uma zoonose negligenciada de grande importância em saúde pública. O município de Caruaru-PE, assim como outras localidades do Brasil, vem apresentando taxas crescentes da doença. Este trabalho teve como objetivos relatar e analisar a frequência de cães sororreagentes para leishmaniose visceral canina e a ocorrência de casos humanos de leishmaniose visceral em todo o município de Caruaru, nas zonas rural e urbana, além de avaliar as ações e estratégias do Programa de Controle da Leishmaniose Visceral no período de janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2010. Foi realizado um estudo epidemiológico descritivo retrospectivo dos casos de leishmaniose visceral canina, no qual se observou um aumento na frequência de cães sororreagentes de 1,4 porcento (24/1671), em 2005, para 31,9 porcento (347/1174) em 2010. Em relação à atuação do programa no município, verificou-se que 44,3 porcento (557/1258) dos animais sororreagentes foram eliminados no período estudado, o que demonstra ter sido pouco efetivo para impedir a expansão da doença. A análise descritiva de casos humanos de leishmaniose visceral, notificados pelo Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação (SINAN), revelou que, das 29 notificações realizadas no período estudado, 15 (51,7 porcento) eram oriundas da zona rural e 14 (48,3 porcento), da zona urbana. Portanto, ficou evidenciado que a referida zoonose tem demonstrado um crescimento não limitado à zona rural e que o processo de urbanização vem gerando mudanças no comportamento epidemiológico da doença também no município de Caruaru-PE.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected zoonosis of great importance in public health. The municipal area of Caruaru, as well as other local areas of Brazil presented increasing prevalence rates of this illness. This current assignment was created with the purpose of analyzing and reporting the high rates observed in dogs exhibiting seroconversion for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) and the occurrence of Visceral Leishmaniasis cases in humans within the entire municipal area of Caruaru (rural and urban), as well as the evaluation of practices and strategies in the VL control program during the period between January 2005 and December 2010. An increase in the number of seropositive dogs was verified in a retrospective descriptive study of CVL, from 1.4 percent (24/1,671) in 2005 to 31.9 percent (347/1,174) in 2010. With reference to the euthanasia program executed on the seropositive animals in the municipal area, only 44.3 percent (557/1,258) were eliminated during that period, revealing such a program as ineffective in preventing dissemination of this disease. A second descriptive study was also performed on human cases of VL, notified by the Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação (SINAN), revealing that out of the 29 notifications in the studied period, 15 (51.7 percent) of them originated in the rural area and 14 (48.3 percent) originated in urban areas. Therefore, it may be observed that the zoonosis has demonstrated growth that is not limited to rural areas, and that the process of urbanization has brought changes in regards to the epidemiological behavior of the disease including the city of Caruaru-PE.

Feline histoplasmosis in Brazil: clinical and laboratory aspects and a comparative approach of published reports.

The present study described clinical and epidemiological aspects of three cases of feline histoplasmosis and compared them to previously described cases. A detailed mycological identification and antifungal susceptibility profile of each isolate are presented. Secondarily, a serological survey for anti-Histoplasma antibodies was performed with domestic and wild cats. Diseased animals presented nodular to ulcerated skin lesions and respiratory disorders as main clinical signs. H. capsulatum var. capsulatum was isolated and the strains showed to be susceptible to antifungal drugs. Considering that feline histoplasmosis is uncommonly observed in veterinary clinics, diagnosis, and clinical management in endemic areas should be improved.

[Prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in dogs from Garanhuns, in the middle scrub zone (Agreste) of Pernambuco]. / Prevalência de anticorpos antileishmania spp em cães de Garanhuns, Agreste de Pernambuco.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the unknown situation regarding canine visceral leishmaniasis in Garanhuns, this study had the aim of investigating occurrences of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in domesticated and partially domesticated dogs, and the possible risk factors involved. METHODS: In the first phase of the study, 256 blood samples were collected from dogs and subjected to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) reaction at a dilution of 1:40. Additionally, 23 IFAT-positive samples were tested using an immunochromatographic dipstick test. In the second phase, new blood samples were collected from 18 dogs that were IFAT-positive in the first phase. These animals were retested using IFAT (1:40 and 1:80) and, additionally, by means of the polymerase chain reaction to investigate the Leishmania infantum DNA. Furthermore, 16 of these samples were retested using the immunochromatographic dipstick test. RESULTS: In the first phase of the study, 16% of the samples were IFAT-positive (1:40) and only three (13%) were positive in the immunochromatographic dipstick test. In the second phase, 12 samples were IFAT-positive at the dilution of 1:40, and seven were also positive at 1:80. None of the samples were positive in the polymerase chain reaction testing or in the immunochromatographic dipstick test. Clinical signs suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis were observed in 4.9% of the IFAT-positive dogs. There were no statistical differences in relation to age, sex or clinical status of the dogs, but there was a difference in relation to place of origin. CONCLUSIONS: The domesticated and partially domesticated dogs living in Garanhuns present anti-Leishmania spp antibodies, but are mostly asymptomatic.

Prevalência de anticorpos antileishmania spp em cães de Garanhuns, Agreste de Pernambuco / Prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in dogs from Garanhuns, in the middle scrub zone (Agreste) of Pernambuco

INTRODUÇÃO: Desconhecida a realidade da leishmaniose visceral canina em Garanhuns, objetivou-se investigar a ocorrência de anticorpos antileishmania spp em cães domiciliados e semidomiciliados e os possíveis fatores de risco envolvidos. MÉTODOS: Em uma primeira etapa foram coletadas 256 amostras de sangue de cães que foram submetidas à reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) na diluição 1:40. Adicionalmente, 23 amostras positivas na RIFI foram testadas com um teste rápido imunocromatográfico. Em uma segunda etapa, novas amostras de sangue de 18 cães positivos na RIFI na primeira fase do estudo foram coletadas, retestadas pela RIFI (1:40 e 1:80) e, adicionalmente, pela reação em cadeia da polimerase para pesquisa de DNA de Leishmania infantum. Ademais, 16 dessas amostras foram retestadas pelo teste rápido imunocromatográfico. RESULTADOS: Na primeira etapa, 16 por cento das amostras foram positivas na RIFI (1:40) e apenas três (13 por cento) foram positivas no teste rápido imunocromatográfico. Na segunda etapa, 12 amostras foram positivas na RIFI na diluição 1:40 e sete também na diluição 1:80. Nenhuma amostra foi positiva na reação em cadeia da polimerase e no teste rápido imunocromatográfico. Sinais clínicos de leishmaniose visceral ocorreram em 4,9 por cento dos cães positivos. Não houve diferença estatística entre idade, sexo e status clínico dos cães, porém entre seus locais de origem. CONCLUSÕES: Os cães domiciliados e semidomiciliados de Garanhuns apresentam anticorpos antileishmania spp, sendo, em sua grande maioria, assintomáticos.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the unknown situation regarding canine visceral leishmaniasis in Garanhuns, this study had the aim of investigating occurrences of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in domesticated and partially domesticated dogs, and the possible risk factors involved. METHODS: In the first phase of the study, 256 blood samples were collected from dogs and subjected to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) reaction at a dilution of 1:40. Additionally, 23 IFAT-positive samples were tested using an immunochromatographic dipstick test. In the second phase, new blood samples were collected from 18 dogs that were IFAT-positive in the first phase. These animals were retested using IFAT (1:40 and 1:80) and, additionally, by means of the polymerase chain reaction to investigate the Leishmania infantum DNA. Furthermore, 16 of these samples were retested using the immunochromatographic dipstick test. RESULTS: In the first phase of the study, 16 percent of the samples were IFAT-positive (1:40) and only three (13 percent) were positive in the immunochromatographic dipstick test. In the second phase, 12 samples were IFAT-positive at the dilution of 1:40, and seven were also positive at 1:80. None of the samples were positive in the polymerase chain reaction testing or in the immunochromatographic dipstick test. Clinical signs suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis were observed in 4.9 percent of the IFAT-positive dogs. There were no statistical differences in relation to age, sex or clinical status of the dogs, but there was a difference in relation to place of origin. CONCLUSIONS: The domesticated and partially domesticated dogs living in Garanhuns present anti-Leishmania spp antibodies, but are mostly asymptomatic.

Occurrence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil.

A serological survey was carried out to assess the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from the State of Pernambuco. A total of 625 serum samples of dogs (289 from Paulista, 168 from Amaraji and 168 from Garanhuns) were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody assay for the detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies. A total of 177 (28.3%; IC 95%, 24.9-32.1) samples were positive. The seropositivity rates found in Paulista, Amaraji and Garanhuns were 26% (IC 95%, 21-31.4), 26.2% (IC 95%, 19.7-33.5) and 34.5% (IC 95%, 27.4-42.2), respectively. Of the 177 serum samples positive to anti-N. caninum antibodies, 170 were additionally tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and out of these 57.6% (IC 95%, 49.8-65.2) were positive. The results indicate that dogs from Amaraji, Paulista and Garanhuns are exposed to both N. caninum and T. gondii infections. The presence of dogs infected by N. caninum in Pernambuco represents a potential risk factor for the occurrence of outbreaks of abortion in cattle and small ruminants in this state. This study is the largest serological survey on the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs carried out in Brazil and reports for the first time the exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs from Pernambuco.