VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN A NEW ECOLOGICAL NICHE NEAR A MAJOR METROPOLITAN-AREA OF BRAZIL

In 1991, a community cross-sectional study was conducted in a village situated near the beach and close to Salvador, the capital city of Bah ia, in Brazil, to determine the prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis s ince 1989. A serological survey was made of human and canine reservoir s and an intradermal skin test for leishmaniasis was used to assess ce llular immune responses. Nearly 30% of the 243 individuals in the stud y area had positive skin tests and 14% had positive serology, the latt er being compatible with recent infection; 29 of 460 dogs examined wer e seropositive. A possible association was observed between human infe ction and the presence of dogs in or near residences, but not between human infection and malnutrition. This report describes the evolution of a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis, its expansion toward a metro politan area, and current measures taken to control the epidemic.