Received: August 1, 2008.

Accepted: January 5, 2009.

Abstract published online: March 23, 2009.

Full paper published online: May 30, 2009.

AMERICAN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS: DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGIES IN DRACENA MICROREGION IN ALTA PAULISTA, SP, BRAZIL

D’Andrea LAZ (1), Camargo-Neves VLF (2), Sampaio SMP (3), Kronka SN (4), Sartor IF (4, 5)

(1) Medical Biology Division, Adolfo Lutz Institute, Regional Laboratory of Presidente Prudente, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Group for Studies on Leishmaniasis, Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, SUCEN, Disease Control Coordinator, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil; (3) Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control, SUCEN, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil; (4) University of Western São Paulo, UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil; (5) São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Despite measures adopted to control American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), the disease is spreading in a fast and worrying way throughout western São Paulo state. The aim of this work was to study the variables involved in the disease cycle as well as the effectiveness of controlling measures. The study was carried out in the microregion of Dracena, which is composed of twelve cities and belongs to Alta Paulista, a region of western São Paulo. The necessary data were provided by the Superintendence for Endemic Disease Control and Adolfo Lutz Institute, Regional Laboratory of Presidente Prudente. From August 2005 to January 2008, the following factors were observed: detection of phlebotomine sandflies in the cities and periods in which dogs or humans were diagnosed; number of human deaths; prevalence of suspected dogs tested by serology; percentage of euthanasia in suspected dogs; a possible correlation between positive dogs and cases of the disease in humans; and the disease prevalence among municipalities from the studied region. It was verified that, despite the strategies adopted in Dracena microregion to control AVL, the disease continues to rise. Thus, some procedures of the AVL Monitoring and Control Program should be reviewed, to grant the initiative more credibility and effectiveness.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

KEY WORDS: visceral leishmaniasis, seroprevalence, control strategies, São Paulo, Brazil.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

LOURDES APARECIDA ZAMPIERI D’ANDREA, Seção de Biologia Médica, Laboratório Regional de Presidente Prudente, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, IAL, Av. Cel. José Soares Marcondes, 2357, Presidente Prudente, SP, 19.013-050, Brasil. Phone: +55 18 2221 1888. Fax: +55 18 2221 5814. Email: zampieri@ial.sp.gov.br.