[leish-l] Leishmaniasis in Brazil

[Fred R. Opperdoes]

At 10:04 -0500 14/01/03, ProMED Digest wrote:
>
>Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 10:04:52 -0500 (EST)
>From: ProMED-mail <promed at promed.isid.harvard.edu>
>Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis - Brazil (Sao Paulo)
>
>LEISHMANIASIS ‚ BRAZIL (SAO PAULO)
>***********************
>A ProMED-mail post
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><http://www.isid.org>
>
>Date: 12 Jan 2003
>From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org
>Source: Informativo Cosmo 11 Jan 2003 [translated & edited by Mod.MPP]
><http://www.cosmo.com.br/cidades/sjriopreto/2003/01/10/materia_srp_48221.shtm>
>
>
>The health authorities of Aracatuba [Sao Paulo state] are issuing an alert
>about an epidemic of human visceral leishmaniasis in 30 municipalities of
>the region. In 2002, epidemiological surveillance reported 43 cases in
>humans resulting in 4 deaths; there were also 2 deaths in 2001. These
>deaths have led to the development of a strategic plan for disease control
>by the Superintendence of Endemic Disease Control (Sucen).
>
>As of Friday [10 Jan 2003], the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit confirmed
>the first death this year [2003] attributable to visceral leishmaniasis,
>signifying the 11th death due to this disease since its reappearance in the
>region in the summer of 1998. The most recent death [2003] is in an 
>adult male.
>
>The Epidemiological Surveillance Unit will investigate whether the death
>was due to leishmaniasis or whether the disease was aggravated by an
>underlying chronic cirrhosis (liver disease). Most cases have been in
>children, especially those living in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, due
>to underlying malnutrition and an association with other diseases such as
>pneumonia.
>
>Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan _Leishmania_ spp. and is
>transmitted by sand flies, which preferentially feed on dogs. For this
>reason, disease control is primarily directed at the canine population.
>Sucen is testing a type of collar with a mosquito repellant. About 10 000
>dogs have been registered [by census] and are followed in Andradina, and
>another 2000 in Aracatuba.
>
>[byline: Salete Duarte]
>
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>ProMED-mail
><promed at promedmail.org>
>
>[The species of leishmania implicated is _L.chagasi_ and the vectors are
>_Lutzomyia_ spp. The animal reservoir includes dogs, foxes, and opossums.
>In 1999, 3892 human cases were reported in Brazil, 3200 of which were in
>the north eastern states (www.gideon.com), but the prevalence in Sao Paulo
>state is not known. Leishmania is one of the infections that increase
>following an increase in HIV prevalence. - Mod.EP]