Importance of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the dynamics of transmission of canine visceral leishmaniasis in the endemic area of Porteirinha Municipality, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
A study of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae), the primary vector of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), and the canine form of the disease, was carried out in Porteirinha. The city is situated in the northern part of the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais and is an endemic area of AVL. Systematic phlebotomine captures were performed in seven districts with previously reported cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis, during 2 years (January 2000--December 2001). A total of 2328 specimens of L. longipalpis were captured. The association between the local climate variables and the population density of L. longipalpis was evaluated and rainfall was determined to be a major factor, with increased populations during the rainy season (October--March). At the same time period, blood samples from every dog domiciled in the same seven districts, in total 14,077 animals, were analyzed for infection by viscerotropic Leishmania using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Accumulated incidence rates of canine VL per district varied from 3.40 to 14.34 for the 2-year period. A positive correlation between the population density of L. longipalpis and the canine cases of visceral leishmaniasis in Porteirinha was observed.
Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. franca@icb.ufmg.br
João C
JC
França-Silva
Ricardo A
RA
Barata
Roberto T da
RT
Costa
Erika Michalsky
EM
Monteiro
George L L
GL
Machado-Coelho
Edvá P
EP
Vieira
Aluisio
A
Prata
Wilson
W
Mayrink
Evaldo
E
Nascimento
Consuelo L
CL
Fortes-Dias
Jaime C
JC
da Silva
Edelberto S
ES
Dias
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004175:Diptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014505:Urban Population; D014887:Weather
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan