Autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Visceral leishmaniasis is a public health threat in Brazil considering the high lethality rates and increasing geographical dispersion to large urban conglomerates over the past 25 years. This study aimed to confirm suspected autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported from 2005 to 2009 among individuals living in Brasilia, Federal District.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the surveillance data obtained on a regular basis and clinical records of the reported cases were performed in 2009.


RESULTS
Data from entomological and canine surveys revealed the presence of both Lutzomyia longipalpis and positive serology for Leishmania in dogs within 19 of the 21 neighborhoods where human cases occurred since 2005. The review of surveillance data and medical records, together with the entomological and canine survey data, permitted confirmation of 21 autochthonous human cases in the Federal District. The disease predominantly affected children (12/21) and those from the Sobradinho region (16/21); the typical presentation of fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia was observed in 67% of cases. Three deaths occurred during the study period. Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi was successfully isolated from one human case and twelve canine cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered endemic in Brasilia based on the documented epidemiological behavior herein described and the confirmed autochthony of human cases.
Carranza-Tamayo
César Omar
CO
Tropical Medicine Unit, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Carvalho
Maria do Socorro Laurentino de
Mdo S
Bredt
Angelika
A
Bofil
Maria Isabel Rao
MI
Rodrigues
Rodrigo Menna Barreto
RM
Silva
Ailton Domício da
AD
Cortez
Sandra Maria Felipe Coelho
SM
Romero
Gustavo Adolfo Sierra
GA
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D018563:Disease Notification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D011576:Psychodidae; D012189:Retrospective Studies