Environmental and animal characteristics as factors associated with American cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural locations with presence of dogs, Brazil.

The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of dogs, other domesticated animals and environmental characteristics as risk factors in the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). A retrospective survey of cases of human ACL in the last ten years and visits to homes in rural locations were carried out in the municipality of Arapongas (southern Brazil) from 2008 to 2010. ACL in humans was significantly associated with a distance of up to 25 meters from the residence to a forest area (OR 5.08; 95% CI: 1.35-21.04), undergrowth area (OR 6.80; 95% CI: 1.69-45.33) and stream (OR 5.87; 95% CI: 1.15-24.59); banana plants near the residence (OR 5.98; 95% CI: 1.49-39.84), absence of ceiling below the roof in the residence (OR 7.30; 95% CI: 1.26-158.1), the dumping of trash in the forest area (OR 26.33; 95% CI: 7.32-93.46) and presence of ACL in dogs in the surrounding area (OR 4.39; 95% CI: 1.37-13.45). In dogs, ACL was associated with a distance of 25 to 50 meters and 51 to 100 meters, respectively, from the residence to a forest area (OR 2.59; 95% CI: 1.08-5.98; OR 3.29; 95% CI: 1.64-6.62), the presence of a stream up to 25 m from the residence (OR 6.23; 95% CI: 2.34-16.54) and banana plants near the residence (OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25-0.80). In the locations studied in the municipality of Arapongas (Brazil), the results reveal that canine infection increases the risk of human infection by ACL and the characteristics surrounding the residence increase the risk of infection in both humans and dogs. Thus, integrated environmental management could be a useful measure to avoid contact between humans and phlebotomines.

Leishmaniose tegumentar americana humana e canina no Município de Mariluz, Estado do Paraná, Brasil / Human and canine American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mariluz, Paraná State, Brazil

Relata-se a ocorrência de um surto de leishmaniose tegumentar americana no ano de 2002, no Município de Mariluz, mesorregião noroeste do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Das 38 pessoas investigadas, quatro tinham lesões cicatrizadas, 10 em cicatrização e 24 tinham lesões ativas. Dos 126 cães investigados, 20 (15,9 por cento) tinham lesões sugestivas e 24 (19 por cento) tiveram sorologia positiva. Os parasitos isolados de dois pacientes e de três cães foram identificados como Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis serodema I. Os flebotomíneos coletados foram identificados como Nyssomyia whitmani, N. neivai e Migonemyia migonei. Considerando que a área onde ocorreram os casos é semelhante a outras de colonização antiga no Estado do Paraná, acredita-se que as alterações ambientais e as matas remanescentes propiciam a manutenção do ciclo enzoótico do parasito e a transmissão para o homem e para os animais domésticos, mantendo o caráter endêmico da leishmaniose tegumentar americana.

An outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was reported in 2002 in Mariluz, northwestern Paraná State, Brazil. Of 38 humans who were investigated, four had healed lesions, ten showed lesions in the healing process, and 24 had active lesions. Of the 126 dogs, 20 (15.9 percent) presented suggestive lesions and 24 (19 percent) had positive serology. Parasites isolated from two patients and three dogs were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis serodeme I. The captured sand flies were identified as Nyssomyia whitmani, N. neivai, and Migonemyia migonei. Considering that the region where the cases occurred is similar to other old human settlements in Paraná State, the environmental alterations and remaining forests facilitate the maintenance of the parasite's enzootic cycle and transmission to humans and domestic animals, thereby maintaining the endemicity of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

[Human and canine American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mariluz, Paraná State, Brazil]. / Leishmaniose tegumentar americana humana e canina no Município de Mariluz, Estado do Paraná, Brasil.

An outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was reported in 2002 in Mariluz, northwestern Paraná State, Brazil. Of 38 humans who were investigated, four had healed lesions, ten showed lesions in the healing process, and 24 had active lesions. Of the 126 dogs, 20 (15.9%) presented suggestive lesions and 24 (19%) had positive serology. Parasites isolated from two patients and three dogs were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis serodeme I. The captured sand flies were identified as Nyssomyia whitmani, N. neivai, and Migonemyia migonei. Considering that the region where the cases occurred is similar to other old human settlements in Paraná State, the environmental alterations and remaining forests facilitate the maintenance of the parasite's enzootic cycle and transmission to humans and domestic animals, thereby maintaining the endemicity of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

PCR in the investigation of canine American tegumentary leishmaniasis in northwestern Paraná State, Brazil.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) was studied in 143 dogs in a rural area in the county of Mariluz, northwestern Paraná State, Brazil, using direct parasite search, indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-nine dogs (27.3%) presented lesions suggestive of the disease, 5 (12.8%) of which were positive in direct parasite search and PCR (lesion), and of these 5, 4 were also positive by IIF. Of the 34 dogs with negative direct parasite search, 12 (35.3%) had PCR-positive lesions, and of these, 5 were also IIF-positive. One hundred and four dogs had no lesions, but 17/101 (16.8%) were IIF-positive. PCR in blood was positive in 10/38 (26.3%) of the dogs with lesions and in 16/104 (15.4%) of dogs without lesions. The association between PCR (lesion or blood), direct parasite search, and IIF detected 24/39 (61.5%) positive results among symptomatic dogs and 31/104 (29.8%) among asymptomatic animals. PCR was useful for diagnosing ATL, but there was no correlation between lesions, serology, and plasma PCR. Furthermore, detection of parasite DNA in the blood may indicate hematogenous parasite dissemination.

PCR in the investigation of canine American tegumentary leishmaniasis in northwestern Paraná State, Brazil

A leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) foi estudada em 143 cães da área rural no Município de Mariluz, noroeste do Estado do Paraná, Brasil, utilizando a pesquisa direta do parasito (PD), a imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) e a reacão em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Trinta e nove cães (27,3 por cento) apresentavam lesões sugestivas da doenca, 5 (12,8 por cento) deles foram positivos na PD e PCR em tecido de lesão, e quatro foram também positivos na IFI. Dos 34 cães com PD negativa, 12 (35,3 por cento) tiveram a PCR (lesão) positiva, e cinco desses tiveram também IFI positiva. Cento e quatro cães não apresentavam lesão, mas 17/101 (16,8 por cento) tiveram IFI positiva. A PCR no sangue foi positiva em 10/38 (26,3 por cento) cães com lesão e em 16/104 (15,4 por cento) sem lesão. A associacão entre PCR (lesão ou sangue), PD e IFI detectou 24/39 (61,5 por cento) positivos entre os cães sintomáticos e 31/104 (29,8 por cento) positivos entre os assintomáticos. A PCR foi útil para o diagnóstico de LTA, não houve relacão entre presenca de lesão, sorologia e PCR no sangue, e a deteccão de DNA do parasito no sangue pode indicar a ocorrência de disseminacão hematogênica do parasito.

Flebotomíneos de municípios do norte do estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil / Sandflies of municipalities in North of Paraná State, South of Brazil

This work reports the results of sandfly collections in several places, during 2001 and 2002, in Bom Sucesso, Jardim Alegre, Kaloré, Londrina and Sabáudia municipalities, North of the State. The sandflies catches were performed with Shannon and Falcão traps in domiciliary areas, domestic animal shelters, barns and in the forest. A total of 4,019 specimens of 8 species were captured. Nyssomyia whitmani predominates in all of the municipalities. The species Migonemyia migonei, Nyssomyia neivai and N. whitmani may be involved in the epidemiology of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in this state.