Eco-epidemiology of Visceral Cutaneus leishmaniasis in Argentina.

SALOMÓN OD; RIARTE A; ACARDI SA; ORDUNA T; RUVINSKI S; FERNÁNDEZ MS; SANTINI MS

Lucknow

Congreso; IV Word Congres on Leishmaniaisis.; 2009

Since the year 2000 the surveillance of Leishmaniasis vectors in Argentinian nine Cutaneos Leishmaniasis endemic provinces was intesified in the search of Lutzomyia longipalpis . mainly in the northern border of the country due to the reports of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Southern Brazil and Paraguay. Lu.longipalpis was found in Corpus (Misiones province 2000), and Clorinda (Formosa 2004) on the border with Paraguay. After this alarrn Clorinda reported canine VL all over the city (including imported dogs) but not human VL, so the city was screened again (11/2007, 140 sites) and Lu. longipalpis clustered in the two neighbourhoods already positive in 2004. The first Argentinian human VL autochthonous case, with concurrent canine VL, Lu. longipalpis, and L.i.chagasi typified from human and dogs, was reported from Posadas (Misiones 5/2006). The screening of vectors in Posadas (3/2007) found Lu.longipalpis in 42% of 314 sites, 5.2% with > 31 vector/trap , and no spatial c1ustering. Posadas up to 9/2008 reported 28 VL cases (4 dead). and > 5000  inlected dogs. La Banda (Santiago del Estero) reported 4 VL cases (L.i.chagasi). and 8 dogs with VL Irom 10/2007 to 5/2008 within an area 01 1.5 km2. This locus was sampled in 11/2007 and 4/2008 (15 traps 250 m around each case), none Lu. longipalpis was lound but each human case, the inlected dogs and the highest abundance 01 Lu. migonei were concurrent (10 m). Prevention-control measures and recommendations were stratified according to current and eventual risk scenarios: Area with human VLtransmission: outbreak, high, moderate, sporadic , first reportoArea without human VL cases: with canine VL, with vectors, adjacent to areas with active tranmission . Operational researches about control strategies. the Lu. longipalpis c1ustering in ´hot spots´ during low transmission periods, and the role of Lu. migonei as a permissive vector of VL are in progress.