Eco-epidemiological studies to develop integrated vector surveillance of leishmaniasis vectors in the Americas

SALOMON OD; QUINTANA MG

One Health & Implementation Research: Improving Health for All

OAE Publishing Inc.

Año: 2022 vol. 2 p. 45 - 55

We developed an integrated vector surveillance (IVS) proposal for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceralleishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, based on eco-epidemiological studies conducted by researchers of theLeishmaniasis Research Network of Argentina. For CL, the transmission was explained in the framework of theedge effect, the increase of vectors and risk of exposure at ecotones and environmental interfaces, and typified asephemeral, transient, or permanent edges, supporting a cost-effective IVS strategy for early warning of CLoutbreaks through an environmental modification alert network, which includes multiple sources of informationand actors. In relation to VL, the earliest colonization sites and spatial distribution were explained by modeling andforecasting the most likely hotspots, persistent in time and space, and modulated by environmental variables.Therefore, for VL, a scalar strategy of critical site selection is proposed from a ?city? scale based on secondarysources such as remote sensing for the definition of possible areas to monitor and intervene, a scale of restrictionfrom possible to most likely areas through local knowledge, and a ?focal site? scale of trap placement through fieldobservation; in this way, IVS activities are carried out at a few sites of the urban landscape and allow a sustainableprogram.