Socio-economic and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of canine infection by Leishmania infantum in Teresina, Brazil.

American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, the disease is caused by Leishmania infantum and the main vector is the phlebotomine sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis, found both in natural ecotopes and in the rural and urban environments, being very well adapted to the peridomestic environment. The domestic dog has been incriminated as the main reservoir of the parasite in the urban environment, but the control measures based on culling seropositive dogs have not shown to be effective to contain the spread of the disease throughout the country. Many studies evaluated risk factors for human visceral leishmaniasis but few focused on the socioeconomic and environmental factors associated with infection among dogs. Knowledge of these factors might help identify the conditions that contribute to the maintenance of transmission cycles in the urban environment and identify new targets for intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic and environmental factors and the occurrence of canine leishmaniasis at Teresina city, Brazil. This cross-sectional study was developed in ten districts of Teresina, involving 532 houses and 810 dogs. Peripheral blood samples were collected by vein punction using vacutainer tubes without anticoagulant for performing serological test (indirect immunofluorescence - IFI). Serum samples with IFI titers ≥1: 80 were considered positive. Owners of the selected dwellings were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire addressing socioeconomic and environment aspects. The association between variables and seropositivity was assessed through multilevel logistic regression models. Global seropositivity was 39%. There was no statistically significant difference between seropositivity and age and sex of animals, literacy of the household head, presence of other domestic animals or with household characteristic like water supply, inadequate sewage disposal system, type of floor and roof. Mixed-breed dogs and those living for a long time in houses with absence of masonry walls and presence of a kennel showed higher odds of seropositivity. These results suggest that some peridomestic characteristics, especially the absence of barriers that allow dogs to have free access to the street, in association with the presence of a kennel, might contribute to maintaining the infection cycle in urban areas. Intervention measures oriented to the management of the peridomestic environment and responsible dog possession could be useful tools for reducing disease burden in endemic area.

Perfil epidemiológico de acidentes com animais peçonhentos no estado do maranhão / Epidemiological profile of accidents involving poisony animals in the stateof Maranhão / Perfil epidemiológico de accidentes con animales venenosos en el estado del Maranhão

Introdução: Acidentes causados por animais peçonhentos são considerados um problema de saúde pública, sendo responsáveis por considerável número de agravos à população mundial. Estudos acerca do tema são escassos no Maranhão, havendo a necessidade de investigação dos casos, visto que são de fundamental importância para as ações de vigilância epidemiológica e ambiental. Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico dos acidentes com animais peçonhentos no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Metodologia: Trata-se de estudo ecológico, descritivo com abordagem quantitativa. Os dados foram coletados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação/Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde ocorridos no período de 01 janeiro de 2009 a 31 de dezembro 2019 dos casos notificados de acidentes com animais peçonhentos. Resultados: Constou-se maior incidência de notificações de acidentes em 2019,nos meses de Fevereiro (10,14%), Março (9,96%) e Maio (9,89%). No que tange ao perfil das vítimas houve uma predominância no sexo masculino (68,16%), adultos jovens de 20 a 39 anos (36,24%) e autodeclarados pretos (75,03%). No que diz respeito à gestação a imensa maioria não se aplica a categoria gestante (77,71%). Em relação as características do acidente destacou-se o acidente escorpiônico (55,97%), seguido pelos acidentes com aranhas (30,66%) e ofídicos (4,09%). O tempo decorrido entre o acidente e o atendimento foi predominante no intervalo de 1 a 3 horas após o acidente (34,37%). Dos acidentes ocorridos 61,31% foram classificados como leves, 82,02% evoluíram clinicamente com cura e 0,6% para óbito. Conclusões: Os acidentes causados por animais peçonhentos são de relevância para que haja um planejamento com medidas intersetoriais de vigilância epidemiológica junto a outros órgãos ambientais para minimizar o número de mortes (AU).

Introduction:Acidents caused by venomous animals are considered a public health problem, being responsible for a considerable number of injuries to the world population. Studies on the theme are scarce, with the need to investigate the cases,since they are of fundamental importance for the actions of epidemiological and environmental surveillance.Objective:To describe the epidemiological profile of accidents with venomous animals in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Methodology:This is an ecological, descriptive study with a quantitative approach. Data were collected at Information System for Notifiable Diseases / Informatics Department of the Unified Health System from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019 of the reported cases of accidents with venomous animals. Results:There was a higher incidence of accident notifications in 2019 and in the months of February (10.14%), March (9.96%) and May (9.89%). Regarding the profile of the victims, there was a predominance of males (68.16%), young adults aged 20 to 39 years (36.24%) and self-declared blacks (75.03%). With regard to pregnancy, the vast majority does not apply to the pregnant category (77.71%). Regarding the characteristics of the accident, the scorpionic accident stood out (55.97%), followed by accidents with spiders (30.66%) and snakebites (4.09%). The time elapsed between the accident and the assistance was predominant in the interval from 1 to 3 hoursafterthe accident (34.37%). Of the accidents that occurred, 61.31% were classified as mild, 82.02% progressed clinically with cure and 0.6% died. Conclusions:Accidents caused by venomous animals are relevant for planning intersectoral measures for epidemiological surveillance with other environmental agencies to minimize the number of deaths (AU).

Introducción: Los accidentes ocasionados por animales venenosos son considerados un problema de salud pública, siendo responsable de un número considerable de lesiones a la población mundial. Los estudios sobre el tema son escasos,con la necesidad de investigar los casos, ya que son de fundamental importancia para las acciones de vigilancia epidemiológica y ambiental. Objetivo: Describir el perfil epidemiológico de accidentes con animales venenosos en el estado de Maranhão, Brasil. Metodología:Se trata de un estudio ecológico, descriptivo con enfoque cuantitativo. Los datos fueron recolectados en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades Notificables /Departamento de Informática del Sistema Único de Salud que ocurrieron en el período del 01 de enero de 2009 al 31 de diciembre de 2019 de los casos notificados de accidentes con animales venenosos.Resultados: Hubo una mayor incidencia de notificaciones de accidentes en 2019 y en los meses de febrero (10,14%), marzo (9,96%) y mayo (9,89%). En cuanto al perfil de las víctimas,predominó el sexo masculino (68,16%), adultos jóvenes de 20 a 39 años (36,24%) y negros autodeclarados (75,03%). En cuanto al embarazo, la gran mayoría no aplica a la categoría de embarazadas (77,71%). En cuanto a las características del accidente, destacó el accidente escorpiónico (55,97%), seguido de los accidentes con arañas (30,66%) y las mordeduras de serpientes (4,09%). El tiempo transcurrido entre el accidente y la asistencia fue predominante en el intervalo de 1 a 3 horasposteriores al accidente (34,37%). De los accidentes ocurridos, 61,31% fueron clasificados como leves, 82,02% progresó clínicamente con curación y 0,6% fallecieron. Conclusiones: Los accidentes causados por animales venenosos son relevantes para planificar medidas intersectoriales de vigilancia epidemiológica con otras agencias ambientales para minimizar el número de muertes (AU).