Three spatial-temporal scales to study both leishmaniases in Argentina

SALOMÓN OD; QUINTANA MG; SANTINI MS; FERNÁNDEZ MS; MASTRANGELO AV; ACARDI SA; ROSA JR ; GOULD IT, LIOTTA DJ, MANTECA ACOSTA M, FUENZALIDA AD, SZELAG E, PARRAS M, MARTINEZ MF

Kunming

Conferencia; 4th Biennial Conference of the International Association for Ecology & Health; 2012

In Argentina tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is mainly rural and endemic, while visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a recent urban epidemic event. Three spatial-temporal scales to study both leishmaniases were used by the Argentinean Network for Research on Leishmaniasis (REDILA): Micro-scale: vector (phlebotomine) abundance was related with domestic animal management and land use (TL & VL), and the closeness to vegetation patches (TL). The habits and risk perception are related with the risk of infection, and the probability of effective human-vector contact. The dog health status and human-pet relationship were also associated with risk (VL). Meso-scale: the phlebotomine have a metapopulation dynamics, with source populations in primary-secondary forest (TL), and an unstable pattern of abundance patches in urban areas (VL), associated with environmental and climatic variables. The domestic and synanthropic animals are risk factors as eventual reservoirs (natural infection PCR-RFLP, sequencing), and as a source of blood for vectors (even if there are refractory to Leishmania as chickens). Macro-scale: risk maps and validated predictive models of vector potential distribution at regional level were developed (TL & VL), suggesting some climate variables as drivers for the future immediate dispersion, mainly for VL that is currently on an ongoing expansion. Thus, the eco-health approach applied to leishmaniases in Argentina generates specific recommendation for prevention and control at each scale, and the frame to design experimental controlled interventions. The National Control Program shares the technical coordination with REDILA, so the evidence-based knowledge could be transferred to actual measures in the field.