The role of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in the transmission of visceral Leishmaniasis dogs: epidemiological aspects

Abstract

Since 2002, began studies on Leishmaniasis in the Municipality of São Vicente Férrer, located in Northern Agreste of Pernambuco, where human cases of American coetaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) frequently occur during periods after the rains, as well as the species of vector responsible for transmitting the disease. For human cases of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) there is no record in the last five years of work done in the area, or the presence of its main vector, the leech straw Lutzomyia longipalpis. Meanwhile, in an investigation based on the canine on clinical, serological and parasite, carried out from July 2003 to July 2005, when 503 samples of serum, 12.3%, consist of 62 samples that were positive for Visceral Leishmaniasis or Calazar. Based in the absence of human cases of AVL and the main vector with objective began a study related to ectoparasites, in case the Rhipicephalus sanguineus found in dogs with parasite positive and serological results. This is the first meeting of promastigotes forms of Leishmania sp. in ticks parasitizing domestic dogs.