Control of canine visceral leishmaniasis by euthanasia: estimated effect based on a survey and mathematical modeling

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-11T11:00:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:37:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0102-311X2020000205008.pdf: 842767 bytes, checksum: 57850b8cda587854b8e297fd853d6989 (MD5) Visceral leishmaniasis is an emerging and neglected disease that is currently expanding to urban areas. The incidence of human disease is related to canine infection. Aracatuba and Birigui are municipalities (counties) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with 8-10% seroprevalence of canine infection and that employ control strategies targeting the canine reservoir, based on serological survey and culling of seropositive dogs. Using data from these control programs to parameterize mathematical models, this study assessed the efficacy of these activities. We estimated that current control is capable of reducing the incidence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) by approximately 20%. Assuming continuous control and three times the current serological survey activities in Aracatuba and Birigui, culling dogs with a positive CVL diagnosis would be effective for the control of canine infection. Although theoretically possible, in practice the control of CVL with the currently recommended strategies is insufficient, since it would require overcoming the difficulties in these activities, such as lack of material, human, and financial resources, besides associated ethical and legal issues. Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Av Dr Arnaldo 715, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Programa Comp Cient, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Superintendencia Controle Endemias, Serv Reg 9, Aracatuba, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Med Vet Aracatuba, Aracatuba, Brazil Adolfo Lutz Inst, Nucleo Parasitoses Sistem, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Med Vet Aracatuba, Aracatuba, Brazil