Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a public health threat in Brazil considering the high lethality rates and increasing geographical dispersion to large urban conglomerates over the past 25 years. This study aimed to confirm suspected autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported from 2005 to 2009 among individuals living in Brasilia, Federal District. A retrospective review of the surveillance data obtained on a regular basis and clinical records of the reported cases were performed in 2009. Data from entomological and canine surveys revealed the presence of both Lutzomyia longipalpis and positive serology for Leishmania in dogs within 19 of the 21 neighborhoods where human cases occurred since 2005. The review of surveillance data and medical records, together with the entomological and canine survey data, permitted confirmation of 21 autochthonous human cases in the Federal District. The disease predominantly affected children (12/21) and those from the Sobradinho region (16/21); the typical presentation of fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia was observed in 67% of cases. Three deaths occurred during the study period. Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi was successfully isolated from one human case and twelve canine cases. Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered endemic in Brasilia based on the documented epidemiological behavior herein described and the confirmed autochthony of human cases.
Highlights
Visceral leishmaniasis is a public health threat in Brazil considering the high lethality rates and increasing geographical dispersion to large urban conglomerates over the past 25 years
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease characterized by fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenias
The first urban epidemic in Brazil occurred 25 years ago in the city of Teresina, State of Piaui[5], and since several outbreaks have been reported in the periphery of other cities, such as São Luiz, State of Maranhão; Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais; Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro; Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul; and Palmas, State of Tocantins[6,7,8,9]
Summary
Visceral leishmaniasis is a public health threat in Brazil considering the high lethality rates and increasing geographical dispersion to large urban conglomerates over the past 25 years. This study aimed to confirm suspected autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported from 2005 to 2009 among individuals living in Brasilia, Federal District. Results: Data from entomological and canine surveys revealed the presence of both Lutzomyia longipalpis and positive serology for Leishmania in dogs within 19 of the 21 neighborhoods where human cases occurred since 2005. The review of surveillance data and medical records, together with the entomological and canine survey data, permitted confirmation of 21 autochthonous human cases in the Federal District. Conclusions: Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered endemic in Brasilia based on the documented epidemiological behavior described and the confirmed autochthony of human cases. In July 2005, the first VL case suspected of being autochthonous was diagnosed in Brasilia
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