Abstract
This research applies indicators concerning control of the visceral leishmaniasis canine reservoir in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Data were obtained from the Zoonoses Control Information System (SCZOO) and the Brazilian Information System on Diseases of Notification (SINAN) database. First we analyzed (i) existing associations between canine epidemiological indicators, where the dependent variable was the canine seroprevalence A (2007 to 2013), and the independent variables were, as follows: canine seroprevalence B (2006 to 2012); percentage of positive dogs by ELISA test reagents that were not euthanized; the relationship between the human and canine population; canine population testing coverage by census surveys; and the years of study (2006 to 2013); (ii) then, we examined the association between human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) cases between 2007 to 2013 and the mentioned variables related to dogs and years. Statistical analysis was done by a generalized linear model (GLM). One unit increases in canine seroprevalence B and canine seroprevalence A were associated to 13% and 12% increases in HVL rates, respectively. The increase in one human/dog ratio unit was associated with a 13% decrease in HVL rates. Canine seroprevalence, human/dog ratio and non-euthanasia of ELISA-reactive dogs in the environment were adequate indicators for analyzing the canine enzootic transmission and the occurrence of HVL cases.
Highlights
Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a globally significant neglected disease 1
Our results demonstrate the association between the control indicators of the canine reservoir and the number of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) cases in the study period
The correlation between HVL and seroprev A (0.750) and seroprev B (0.696) was positive at p < 0.01. This indicates that increased canine seroprevalence is associated to the increase of HVL incidence rates
Summary
Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a globally significant neglected disease 1. In the last 30 years, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become a major challenge for surveillance and disease control programs in Brazil. Several epidemics have struck urban areas and significant dissemination of this important health problem is noted 2. This led to questioning regarding the scientific paradigm related to the transmission of this disease and the theoretical fundamentals of control actions. Brazil accounts for over 95% of the HVL notifications in the Americas 3, and the disease burden, characterized by missed years of life adjusted for death and disability, has increased 86% in the last 16 years 2
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