AMERICAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL - ECO-EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS IN ZONA DA MATA REGION

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has been increasing in Pernambu co, thus becoming an important problem for Public Health. The incinden ce is predominant in the region called 'Zona da Mata', in the east of this state. This region corresponds geographically. to the primitive a rea of the Atlantic forest. In order to characterize the eco-epidemiol ogy expression of ACL in this region, two localities situated in the m unicipalities of Amaraji e Cortes have been selected by the criterion of higher incindence of human cases. Five stocks of patients were char acterized and identified on the basis of enzyme profiles as a new vari ant of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis. A survey of wild and domestic ani mals was carried out by means of a parasitological and serological dia gnosis. Through the analysis of the spleen and liver imprints, were de tected amastigotes compatible with Leishmania in five Nectomys s. squa mipes, five Bolomys l. pixuna, two Rattus r. alexandrinus and one Ratt us r. frugivorus. For two years we carried out monthly sandflies captu res using CDC light traps as well as manual captures. Lutzomyia whitma ni was predominant, which accounted for 97.4% of the total. These data indicate a strong evidence on the vector and the potential reservoirs of L. braziliensis in this region.