Awareness of visceral leishmaniasis and its relationship to canine infection in riverside endemic areas in Northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2014-09, Vol.47 (5), p.607-612
• Main Authors: Costa, Kalidia Felipe de Lima, Amóra, Sthenia Santos Albano, Couto, Camila Fernandes de Amorim, Souza, Celeste da Silva Freitas de, Silva, Luanna Fernandes, d'Escoffier, Luiz Ney, Sousa, Maressa Laíse Reginaldo de, Kazimoto, Thais Aparecida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Dog; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dogs; Endemic Diseases - veterinary; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Leishmania infantum - genetics; Leishmaniasis knowledge; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Male; Middle Aged; Owner; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Risk factor; Socioeconomic Factors; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Visceral leishmaniasis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 1678-9849; 0037-8682
• DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0167-2014

An awareness of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is necessary to encourage the population to participate in prevention and control in collaboration with more efficient, centrally organized health programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of the riverside population regarding VL and the association between awareness and the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). In total, 71 people living in riverside areas in the City of Mossoró in State of Rio Grande do Norte participated of the study, and 71 dogs were tested for CVL by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Association analysis of several variables related to knowledge of the riverside population regarding CVL positivity was performed, yielding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and significance was determined using chi-square (χ2) and Fisher's exact tests. Among individuals whose dogs tested positive for CVL, 60% did not know the cure for CVL, and these subjects were three times more likely to have a dog test positive for CVL than those who were aware the cure for CVL. Knowledge of CVL cure was the only variable that remained in the logistic model after the successive removal of variables, with an adjusted OR of 3.11 (95%CI: 1.1-8,799; p=0.032). Insufficient awareness regarding VL in riverside areas with CVL-positive dogs was associated with increased rates of canine infection, which suggests that changes in habits and the adoption of attitudes and preventive practices may contribute to the control and prevention of this disease. This study reinforces the need to invest in better health education programs regarding VL.