Spatial analysis of canine leishmaniasis in an area of transmission of the semi-arid region of the State of Paraíba, Brazil

Raizza Barros Sousa Silva,Marcia Almeida De Melo,Angélica Beatriz Araújo De Andrade Freitas,Walter Massa Ramalho,Diana Azevedo Lima,Laysa Freire Franco-Silva

doi:10.1590/s1984-296120201089

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis is a widely distributed zoonosis and canine infection is an important indicator of risk for the occurrence of the disease in humans. The goal of this analysis was to study the spatial clustering of canine leishmaniasis (CL) in the municipality of Santa Luzia, state of Paraíba. For this, 749 samples of canine plasma were tested using three serological tests. The dog was considered positive if it reacted in two serological tests. The location of the residences was performed with a Global Positioning System receiver (GPS Garmin® eTrex 30), and used to perform georeferencing and spatial analysis. The prevalence of CL was 15.49% and it was observed that most cases of the urban area were concentrated in the Frei Damião neighborhood, on the outskirts of the city, where a high-risk cluster for the occurrence of the disease was formed (p = 0.02; RR = 2.48). No statistically significant cluster was observed in rural areas. CL is widely distributed in the municipality of Santa Luzia in a heterogeneous manner and with a tendency to urbanization. The areas identified with high prevalence and highest risk should be prioritized to maximize the efficiency of the Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program and minimize the chance of new canine and human cases.

Highlights

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum which affects humans, canids, and other mammals (WHO, 2010)
Despite the usage of control strategies proposed by the Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program (PVCLV) (Brasil, 2014), in general, there is no decrease in the number of cases of human and canine leishmaniasis, and the disease is expanding in Brazil, with notification of cases in areas where VL had not yet been reported (Moreira et al, 2004; Oliveira et al, 2008; Campos et al, 2017)
Bearing in mind that canine infection is an important indicator of risk for the occurrence of human VL (Faye et al, 2011) and that the epidemiological aspects may signalize important actions for controlling the disease to local surveillance agencies, the objectives of this research were to map the distribution of canine leishmaniasis (CL) and to detect spatial clusters to identify the areas at risk for VL in the municipality of Santa Luzia, Paraíba

Summary

Introduction

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum which affects humans, canids, and other mammals (WHO, 2010). To increase the effectiveness of the control strategies, the Health Ministry recommends that the actions should be distinct for each epidemiological situation and that the areas with more serious epidemiological situation must be prioritized (Brasil, 2014). In this sense, spatial analysis tools may help in epidemiological research and improve the use of public resources, since enable the mapping of the areas where the cases occur, characterizing and quantifying, and allowing a greater recognition of the local reality (Brasil, 2006; Pavarini et al, 2008; Barbosa et al, 2014; Ribeiro et al, 2014).

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