LEISHMANIASIS EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE IN MONTE MOR CITY, sao PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

Cutaneous (LTA) and Visceral (LVA) American Leishmaniasis incidences are increasing in human and canine, especially LVA, which is expanding its range through São Paulo State. Distribution and ecology knowledge of different sand fly species, and in case of LVA, the prevalence of Leishmania infection in dogs, its main reservoir, are essential for leishmaniasis epidemiology vigilance. Considering this, it was studied sand flies abundance and distribution, and also the presence of anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies in dogs, from different areas of Monte Mor county, São Paulo State. Sand flies were trapped in urban and rural areas between April 2006 and April 2008. CDC automatic light traps were used from 18h to 8h, during 16 nights. 319 canine sera samples were processed by ELISA and RIFI techniques, using Leishmania major as antigen. 86 phlebotomines were found in 14 out of 16 evaluated places, resulting in seven different sand fly species identified: Nyssomyia neivai, Pintomyia monticola, P. pessoai, N. whitmani, Migonemyia migonei, Brumptomyia brumpti and Evandromyia termitophila. N. neivai, pointed out as the main LTA vector in São Paulo State, was the most abundant species (48.84% of the total captured), being found in 10 out of 14 places where sand flies were captured. All 319 canine sera were negative in serological tests. The finding of N. neivai and also the presence of secondary vector species as N. whitmani, M. migonei and P. pessoai, indicates the risk of LTA transmission in different places of Monte Mor county. The absence of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand fly species and also the absence of dogs with anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies indicates, in the moment no occurrence of canine LVA in the city, with low risk of establishment of this disease in the studied area. Due to the high importance of leishmaniasis in the public health context, epidemiological vigilance actions must be continuously performed.