Visceral leishmaniasis in a new ecological niche near a major metropolitan area of Brazil.
In 1991, a community cross-sectional study was conducted in a village situated near the beach and close to Salvador, the capital city of Bahia, in Brazil, to determine the prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis since 1989. A serological survey was made of human and canine reservoirs and an intradermal skin test for leishmaniasis was used to assess cellular immune responses. Nearly 30% of the 243 individuals in the study area had positive skin tests and 14% had positive serology, the latter being compatible with recent infection; 29 of 460 dogs examined were seropositive. A possible association was observed between human infection and the presence of dogs in or near residences, but not between human infection and malnutrition. This report describes the evolution of a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis, its expansion toward a metropolitan area, and current measures taken to control the epidemic.
Cunha
S
S
Department of Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
Freire
M
M
Eulalio
C
C
Critosvao
J
J
Netto
E
E
Johnson
W D
WD
Reed
S G
SG
Badaro
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012621:Seasons; D012882:Skin Tests
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan