Leishmaniasis and climate change: case study-Argentina

SALOMÓN, OD; QUINTANA, MG; MASTRANGELO, AV; FERNANDEZ, MS

Journal of Tropical Medicine

Hindawi

Lugar: New Delhi; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 11

1687-9686

Vector-borne diseases closely associated with the environment such as leishmaniases, have been a usual argument about the deleterious impact of climate change on public health. From the biological point of view interaction of different variables have different and even conflicting effects on the survival of vectors and the probability transmission of pathogens. The results on eco-epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Argentina related to climate variables at different scales of space and time are presented. These studies showed that the changes in transmission due to change or increase in frequency and intensity of climatic instability were expressed through changes in the probability of vector-human reservoir effective contacts. These change of contact in turn are modulated by both direct effects on the biology and ecology of the organisms involved, as by perceptions and changes in the behavior of the human communities at risk. Therefore, from the perspective of public health and state policy, and taking into account the current non-linear increased velocity of climate change, we concluded that discuss the uncertainties of large-scale models will has lower impact than to develop-validate mitigation strategies to be operative at local level, and compatibles with sustainable development, conservation biodiversity and respect for cultural diversity.