HEALTH INDICATORS OF CANINE VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS AS TOOLS FOR CONTROL AND PREVENTION IN BRAZIL

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) is a disease caused by the protozoan genus Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of the sand fly mosquito. It is considered a zoonosis and its control is based on the diversity of urban vector reservoir agents, where dogs are the main reservoirs of the parasite. The present article aimed to investigate the prevalence and incidence of CVL in different regions of Brazil, from a literature review. An analysis of scientific articles focusing on the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, prophylaxis and control aspects of the disease was carried out. The prevalence of CVL in Brazilian regions is determined by means of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory diagnostic methods. Laboratory confirmation is necessary to avoid false positive results, whose consequences can be fatal, such as euthanasia in non infected animals. The study is based on the survey of transmission areas with the evaluation of the effectiveness of actions to control and progress the disease, such as the reduction of prevalence and lethality, with measures of interventions and environmental sanitation that can reduce its incidence. It was found that the knowledge of the epidemiological indicators of CVL are essential to implement health actions to promote control and prevention in susceptible populations.