RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Human visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Natal, northeast of Brazil, where the domestic dog is an important parasite reservoir in the infectious cycle of Leishmania spp. In this study, was evaluated the antileishmanial IgG antibody and epidemiological factors related to canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). METHODS: Sera samples obtained by venipuncture of 1,426 dogs living in areas of human visceral leishmaniasis occurrence were tested for detection of IgG anti-leishmania antibodies with Immunofluorescence Antibody Assay (IFA) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Chi-square (x(2)) and Odds Ratio (OR) were calculated. Differences were considered statistically significant at p≤0.05. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 10.30% (147/1,426); prevalence increased when the samples were found to be positive at least for one technique ([417/1,426] 29.3%). The high percentage of seroprevalence was observed in Nova República (15.35%), Nova Natal I (12.7%) and Lagoa Azul (11.4%) neighborhoods. In the Planalto, Soledade and Brasil Novo, the infection rates ranged from 7.5 at 8.06%. (p=0.00051). There was neither statistically significant difference between leishmanial infection nor clinical signs of disease (p=0.84; OR=1.0 [0.41; 2.3]), sex (p=0.78, OR=0.94 [0.66; 1.28]); and breed (p=0.92; OR=1.0 [0.65; 1.54]) were observed. CONCLUSION: The RESULTS suggest that CVL is widely distributed in Natal, may be increasingly urbanizing and will spread through neighborhoods but not endemic, resulting in a serious public health problem, emphasizing the need for epidemiological studies to a greater understanding of the distribution of canine leishmaniasis in these specific areas and contribute proactively to the public health policies.
RESUMO
Objetivo: descrever as características epidemiológicas do dengue no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, no período 2000-2009. Métodos: foram analisados dados secundários do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) e de planilhas paralelas do dengue. Resultados: foram registrados 186.469 casos no período; as médias e medianas anuais foram de 18.647 e17.059 casos, respectivamente; as maiores incidências ocorreram nos meses de fevereiro a junho, e os sorotipos virais circulantes detectados no período foram DENV-1, DENV-2 e DENV-3; picos de incidência foram registrados nos anos de 2008 (41.987 casos) e 2001 (39.968 casos); o sexo feminino e indivíduos na faixa etária de 15 a 34 anos foram os mais acometidos; observou-se alto percentual de casos com critério de encerramento ignorado ou em branco, e a letalidade variou de 2,0 por cento a 20,0 por cento. Conclusão: o Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, o dengue revela perfil endêmico com picos epidêmicos, principalmente durante a (re) introdução de novos sorotipos virais.
Objective: to describe dengue fever epidemiology in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in the period 2000-2009. Methods: were used secondary data from Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) and parallel sheets. Results: there were 186,469 registered cases in the period; the annual averages and medians were 18,647 and 17,059 cases, respectively; the highest incidences occurred in the months from February to June, and the circulating virus serotypes detected were DENV-1,DENV-2 and DENV-3; incidence peaks were recorded in the years 2008 (41.987cases) and 2001 (39,968 cases); female gender and individuals aged 15-34 years were the most affected; there was a high percentage of cases with foreclosure criteria ignoredor blank; and the lethality rate ranged from 2.0 per cent to 20.0 per cent. Conclusion: in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, the disease reveals endemic profile with epidemic peaks, specially during the (re)introduction of new serotypes.
