Effect of knowledge and economic status on sandfly control activities by householders at risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the subandean region of Huila department, Colombia / Efecto del conocimiento y nivel socioeconómico sobre las actividades de control realizadas por la población en riesgo de adquirir leishmaniasis cutánea en la región subandina del departamento del Huila, Colombia

Introducción. Las medidas de control vectorial en el ámbito familiar pueden ser estimuladas por campañas de promoción en salud que tengan en cuenta los conocimientos y actitudes de la población con énfasis en vacíos claves en el conocimiento. Objetivos. Describir las prácticas de control para flebótomos realizadas por las familias en un área endémica de leishmaniasis cutánea en el departamento del Huila, Colombia, y determinar cómo estas prácticas son influenciadas por las actitudes, conocimientos y el estatus socioeconómico. Materiales y métodos. Se aplicó un cuestionario a nivel familiar para recolectar información sobre: demografía, estatus socioeconómico, conocimientos sobre leishmaniasis cutánea y sobre los flebótomos y su papel en la transmisión, y la práctica de actividades de control. La abundancia intradomiciliar de flebótomos fue estimada con trampas de luz. Resultados. De 249 entrevistados, 86 por ciento conocían la leishmaniasis cutánea y 98 por ciento los flebótomos. 35 por ciento de los entrevistados que conocían la leishmaniasis cutánea practicaron medidas para su control. Estas prácticas fueron mayores, 32 por ciento, en las familias que conocían que los flebótomos transmiten la LC. Sin embargo, 82 por ciento de los entrevistados practicaron medidas de control para los flebótomos, y estas prácticas estuvieron significativamente asociadas con altas abundancias de flebótomos. Las medidas de control practicadas incluyeron humazo, toldillos, fumigación intradomiciliar con insecticidas o con sustancias no insecticidas. Las familias que usaron medidas de costo alto (toldillos e insecticidas) tenían el estatus económico más alto. Conclusiones. Los programas de educación en salud deben considerar que la molestia sanitaria causada por los flebótomos puede iniciar la práctica de medidas de control y que el conocimiento del papel de los flebótomos en la Transmisión puede aumentar estas actividades. Los resultados con relación al estatus socioeconómico in...

Introduction. Householder vector control measures can be encouraged by health promotion campaigns which take into account peoples’ attitudes and focus on key gaps in knowledge. Objectives. To describe household sandfly control practices in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the department of Huila, Colombia, and determine how these are influenced by attitudes, knowledge and socioeconomic status. Materials and methods. A household questionnaire was applied to collect information on: demography, socioeconomic status, knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and of sandflies and their role in transmission, and the control activities practiced. Indoor sandfly abundance was estimated by light trap collections. Results. Amongst 249 interviewees, 86% knew about cutaneous leishmaniasis and 98% sand flies. 35% of interviewees who knew about cutaneous leishmaniasis practiced measures with the purpose of its control. This practice was higher amongst the 32% who knew that sand flies transmit cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, 82% of interviewees practiced sand fly control measures, and these were significantly associated with high sand fly abundance. Measures included smoke, bednets, and house spraying with insecticide or non-insecticidal substances. Householders using the high cost measures (bednets and insecticide) had the highest economic status. Conclusions. Health education programmes should note that sand fly nuisance can initiate control measures, but that knowledge of the role of sand flies in transmission could enhance activities. The socioeconomic findings indicate that targeted bednet subsidies could reduce inequities in health status amongst cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic communities.

[Lutzomyia longiflocosa as suspected vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis on the sub-andean region of Tolima department, Colombia, and the knowledge on sandflies by the inhabitants]. / Lutzomyia longiflocosa, posible vector en un foco de leishmaniasis cutánea en la región subandina del departamento del Tolima, Colombia, y el conocimiento que tiene la población sobre este insecto.

INTRODUCTION: Between 2003 and 2004 the largest epidemic of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia (2,810 cases, with the highest incidence of 6,202 x 100,000 in 2004) occurred in the sub-Andean rural area of the municipalities of Chaparral and San Antonio in the department of Tolima. OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to identify suspected vectors and to establish the knowledge that the inhabitants have about sand flies in order to use this information for vector control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 houses were sampled with CDC light traps set up indoors to establish the sand fly species composition, abundance and the percentage of infestation. Houses were examined during daylight to identify endophagy. A questionnaire was applied in order to estimate the knowledge about sand flies, their role in transmission and the sites and seasons of highest abundance. RESULTS: Three anthropophilic sand fly species of possible epidemiological importance were found. L. longiflocosa was the dominant sand fly species accounting for 81.7% (192 / 235) of all catches and infested the highest number of houses (41.7%). The other two species were L. columbiana and L. nuneztovari, with relative abundances of 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively, and house infestations of 13.0% and 6.5%, respectively. There was no evidence of endophilic behavior. Inhabitants recognized sand flies and their role in transmission. They identified the houses and the dry season as the site and time period of highest sand fly abundance. CONCLUSIONS: Based on its high anthropophily, predominance and apparent endophagic behavior, L. longiflocosa is the most probable vector of leishmaniasis indoors. L. columbiana and L. nuneztovari could be involved as secondary vectors outdoors. The importance of these findings on sand fly control is discussed.

Effect of knowledge and economic status on sandfly control activities by householders at risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the subandean region of Huila department, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Householder vector control measures can be encouraged by health promotion campaigns which take into account peoples' attitudes and focus on key gaps in knowledge. OBJECTIVES: To describe household sandfly control practices in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the department of Huila, Colombia, and determine how these are influenced by attitudes, knowledge and socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A household questionnaire was applied to collect information on: demography, socioeconomic status, knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and of sandflies and their role in transmission, and the control activities practiced. Indoor sandfly abundance was estimated by light trap collections. RESULTS: Amongst 249 interviewees, 86% knew about cutaneous leishmaniasis and 98% sand flies. 35% of interviewees who knew about cutaneous leishmaniasis practiced measures with the purpose of its control. This practice was higher amongst the 32% who knew that sand flies transmit cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, 82% of interviewees practiced sand fly control measures, and these were significantly associated with high sand fly abundance. Measures included smoke, bednets, and house spraying with insecticide or non-insecticidal substances. Householders using the high cost measures (bednets and insecticide) had the highest economic status. CONCLUSIONS: Health education programmes should note that sand fly nuisance can initiate control measures, but that knowledge of the role of sand flies in transmission could enhance activities. The socioeconomic findings indicate that targeted bednet subsidies could reduce inequities in health status amongst cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic communities.

Estudio preliminar de los flebótomos de Villeta y Quebradanegra, Cundinamarca: sus implicaciones en salud pública / Preliminar study of the flebotomines from Villeta and quebradanegra, Cundinamarca: its public healh implications

Con el fin de preseleccionar los posibles vectores de leishmaniasis cutánea en Villeta y su área rural más cercana, se hizo un reconocimiento de las especies del genero Lutzomyia. Los insectos se capturaron durante la noche con cebo humano, cebo animal, trampas shannon y trampas CDC y, durante el día, por aspiración directa en los sitios de reposo. Se encontraron ocho especies en los 497 insectos recolectados; las más abundates fueron Lu. ovallesi (48,7 por ciento), Lu. gomezi (38,5 por ciento) y Lu. lichyi (8 por ciento), Especies reconocidas como antropofílicas y con antecedentes de ser vectoras o posibles vectoras. Lu gomezi fue la especie más abundante en las capturas con cebo humano, con una fuerte tendencia peridomiciliaria por lo que podría estar implicada en la transmisión de leishmaniasis en toda el área de estudio. Lu ovallesi fue más abundante en los bosques poco intervenidos del área rural, por lo que es posible que juegue un papel como vector más importante en esta área. Lu. lichyi se presentó, principalmente, en el bosque aunque llegó hasta el peridomicilio. Finalmente, es necesario iniciar estudios detallados para aclarar el papel que, como vectores, puedan tener las especies de Lutzomyia antes mencionadas en Villeta y el área rural adyacente