title: Public Knowledge about and Detection of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Urban Divinópolis, Brazil.
abstract: Background. Leishmaniases are diseases with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations including cutaneous (CL) and visceral (VL) forms. Many factors may affect their occurrence and expansion including environmental, geographic, and social conditions. In the past two decades, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, has exhibited the potential for a disease outbreak, with the appearance of CL, and VL cases (human and canine). Hence, this study was initiated to monitor public knowledge of the disease. Questionnaires were administered in four neighborhoods (Jardim Belvedere, Esplanada, Danilo Passos I and II) where most of the human and canine cases have been reported. The analyses demonstrated that public knowledge of the disease is sparse and fragmented. A strong perception of the dog as the main reservoir was observed. Five veterinary clinics were evaluated for the presence of canine VL using serological (RIFI and ELISA) and molecular (PCR-RFLP) techniques. This is the first study demonstrating the occurrence of Leishmania infantum in Divinópolis, suggesting a possible urbanization of VL.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Avenida Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil ; Fundação Educacional de Divinópolis, Universidade Estadual de Minas Gerais (FUNEDI/UEMG), Avenida Paraná 3001, 35501-170 Divinópolis, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Margonari
authors.forename: Júlia Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Marcele Neves
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Kamila Nunes
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eder de Oliveira
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luisa Fonseca
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furtado de Sousa
authors.forename: Eduardo de Castro
authors.initials: Ede C
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Madureira
authors.forename: Maria Norma
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Rodrigo Pedro
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Soares