Abstract
During three years (1990-1993), the application of the ecoepidemiological method in the endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in the Caribbean coast region of Colombia allowed for the understanding of the mechanism of disease transmission. A new vector for American visceral leishmaniasis was demonstrated: Lutzomyia evansi. It is the main vector in this region. Leishmania infantum (=L. chagasi) is responsible of visceral leishmaniasis as well as cutaneous leishmaniasis. L. braziliensis was also found to produce cutaneous lessions. The opposum (Didelphis marsupialis) is an important reservoir for L. infantum (23% infection) and for Tripanosoma cruzi (18% infection). In addition, 25% of dogs showed IFAT (+) for Leishmania. The application of Thornthwaite's humidity coeficient allowed for the localization of the distribution area for Lu. evansi and the determination of the limits of the transmission focus (the macrofocus). The population dinamics of the vector showed that the rain season (october - december) is the period of higher transmission and that children under three years old is the human population at higher risk. Currently, the first program for the control of visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia is being designed and performed with the aid of these elements.
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