Human visceral leishmaniasis: epidemiological temporal and spacialaspects in Northeast Brazil 2003-2017

摘要

Visceral leishmaniasis is a highly lethal zoonosis transmitted by a sandfly. Itis caused by a protozoan parasite and dogs are themain reservoir. Ceara State is endemic to visceral leishmaniasis and it isconsidered a high risk transmission area. Temporal and spatial epidemiologicalstudies have been used as tools to analyze the distribution and frequency ofhuman visceral leishmaniasis (HVL). This study aimed to characterize HVL in itsepidemiological andtemporal aspects in Ceara State, from 2003 to 2017, as thisis a neglected disease and a public health problem. This is an ecological studycarried out with HVL confirmed cases in Ceara, using three blocks of years (2003to 2007, 2008 to 2012 and 2013 to 2017). The disease presented an endemicbehavior, affecting mainly male residents in the urban area, especially childrenunder five and young adults between 30 and 49 years old. HVL is recorded in allthe municipalities, for more than 10 years, with a growing trend and territorialexpansion to the Central and Eastern regions of the State. The results of thisstudy indicated the increase in the incidence and lethality, as well as theexpansion of leishmaniasis in Ceara State.