title: [Epidemiological aspects of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in Varzelândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil].
abstract: To characterize an area of endemic leishmaniasis, aiming to test a candidate leishmania vaccine, a prospective epidemiological survey was implemented in 1999 in a rural area of Varzelândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. From a total of 1,253 persons in 246 households, 1,170 were included, of whom 593 (50.6%) were males and 662 (56.5%) were under 21 years of age. A Montenegro intradermal test performed in 1,120 individuals and evaluated in 1,020 was reactive in 282 (27.6%). Serological testing through indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA was performed in 970 individuals (82.9%). Antibodies to Leishmania sp. were detected in 117 (13.1%) and 170 (17.5%), respectively, by the two tests. Cutaneous scars similar to those seen in American tegumentary leishmaniasis were found in 297 individuals (25.4%), 282 of whom were submitted to the intradermal test, while only 168 (59.6) were reactive. Initial leishmaniasis prevalence of 5.8% was recorded, and an annual leishmaniasis incidence rate of 4.6% was observed after one year of follow-up. The epidemiological characteristics observed in this location are suggestive of an endemic area with old colonization.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Guimarães
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Edvá Vieira de
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.forename: Aluízio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prata
authors.forename: Mario León
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silva-Vergara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D012882:Skin Tests