Environmental and animal characteristics as factors associated with American cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural locations with presence of dogs, Brazil.

The aim of the study was to investigate the importance of dogs, other domesticated animals and environmental characteristics as risk factors in the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). A retrospective survey of cases of human ACL in the last ten years and visits to homes in rural locations were carried out in the municipality of Arapongas (southern Brazil) from 2008 to 2010. ACL in humans was significantly associated with a distance of up to 25 meters from the residence to a forest area (OR 5.

Natural infection of Nyssomyia neivai by Leishmania (Viannia) spp. in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Natural sandfly infection by Leishmania spp. in an area endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis was analyzed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sandflies were captured using Falcão light traps in an endemic area of the municipality of Doutor Camargo during March, April, and June 2008.