Addressing the Emergence and Spread of Leishmaniases in the Borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay + Uruguay + Bolivia: Argentina node, social sciences component

ANDREA MASTRANGELO Y OD SALOMÓN

Toledo

Congreso; 6th World Leish; 2017

OMS, instituto de Salud Carlos III, DNDi

Methods: The center of the study area was Iguazú Department (ID), the Argentinean side of the three-country border. Land use and coverage were cross-checked between field observations and secondary sources (satellite imagery and statistics on conservation, cultivated and urban areas). We performed in-depth and semi-structured interviews with key informants and community, and participant observation of inter-specific relationship human-reservoir-vector for VL.Results: Spatial analysis revealed overlapping in the land use categories (20% of ID surface), so there are an increased exposure of human population to forest borders and forestry hinterlands. This scenario implies poor urban planning, dwelling aside forest with transmission of CL and high mobility of humans and its dogs. In four municipalities canine VL management showed great heterogeneity of practices among social actors with the same role (sanitary authorities, public health personnel, private practitioners, owners and breeders) about dogs culling, vaccination, treatment and vector bite prevention. Inter-specific social distance is smaller between host and reservoir, than between host and vector. Dog ? human relationship generates diverse social relations: anthropomorphism (animal shelters), commodity (breeders) and a relation with a non-social being (Mbyá aboriginal people).Conclusions: Land management is associated with CL control. The diversity in the human-dog bond makes the ?responsible ownership? universal discourse insufficient as a surveillance strategy for VL reservoirs. As foundation for an effective health program is required the agreement of public and private practitioners on canine VL management. Further, we suggest incorporating euthanasia and animal rights debate as a cross cultural instance within the OneHealth-EcoHealth approach.