Ecoepidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in the Atlantic rain forest region of Pernambuco, Brazil

Ecoepidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar americana associada à Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis na zona da Mata Atlântica do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

SUMMARY OF THESIS^*

BRANDÃO FILHO, Sinval Pinto – Ecoepidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar americana associada à Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis na zona da Mata Atlântica do Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. São Paulo, 2001. (Tese de Doutoramento – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas da Universidade de São Paulo).

ECOEPIDEMIOLOGY OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS CAUSED BY Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis IN THE ATLANTIC RAIN FOREST REGION OF PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL

The objective of the present study was to characterise the epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in an area of old colonisation located in the Atlantic Forest region of Pernambuco State, Brazil. Parasitological and epidemiological surveys of both the human and animal populations of Amaraji municipality were performed from the beginning of 1996 to July 2000. Wild animals and sand flies were captured in silvatic and sinantropic habitats. L. (V.) braziliensis was the only species identified in isolates from man and 38 isolates identified with isoenzymes belonged to four zymodemes but the same serodeme. A total of 309 new cases of dermal leishmaniasis were registered during the study period. There was an increased burden of infection irrespective of the age, sex or occupation of the local human population. Amastigotes were seen in stained spleen smears of 5.7% (26/460) of the silvatic mammals. 17.6% of these same animals were positive in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using kDNA primers that are specific for the subgenus L. (Viannia). A total of 5 isolates from Bolomys lasiurus and 1of Rattus rattus were identified as L. (V.) braziliensis and besides this 14.6% of B. lasiurus were positive in the kDNA PCR test. These results incriminate this rodent as a classical primary silvatic reservoir in the region. Nectomys squamipes is also a possible primary reservoir in higher forest as 28.1% (43/153) were positive with the same primers. In this same kDNA PCR test, 19.67% (12/61) of the dogs and 13.8% (8/58) of the equines also presented positive reactions. Of the total phlebotomine sand fly fauna 97.84% were Lutzomyia whitmani, indicating that it is probably the principal vector involving in the zoonotic cycle. This species was abundant in all the habitats including the peridomicillary one. Lutzomyia complexa (Psychodopygus complexus) is present in silvatic habitat and may be a principal vector involving in the enzootic cycle.

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This thesis is available at the Library of the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  04 July 2001
• Date of issue
  June 2001