LEISHMANIASIS ECO-EPIDEMIOLOGY IN THE ALPUJARRA REGION (GRANADA PROVINCE, SOUTHERN SPAIN)

An eco-epidemiological study was carried out in the region of the Alpu jarras (southern Spain, Granada province). Nine villages were chosen a t random in 5 bioclimatic zones. A study of leishmaniasis in the canin e and human populations, was carried out concentrating especially upon schoolchildren. A total of 615 dogs were screened, which represents a lmost 100% of the canine census. Of the screened dogs, 33 showed an an tibody titer greater than or equal to 1/160 when tested by IFA (seropr evalence of 5.3%). Age, sex, activity, and clinical symptoms of each d og were taken into account. Among the human population, infection from Leishmania was studied using the Leishmanin skin test (LST). Of 1286 people who were tested, 568 (44.16%) were positive. Most of the subjec ts were schoolchildren (878; practically 100% of the pupils), of whom 288 (32.8%) tested positive. A close relation was seen to exist betwee n the percentage of positive LST's and age. Finally, a close relations hip was also observed between canine seroprevalence and percentage of schoolchildren who tested positive in the LST, in the 5 bioclimatic zo nes under consideration.