Estudo epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral no Estado da Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

Visceral canine leishmaniasis (LVC) is considered a public health disease, which is in rapid growth in the country, as well as registered in several regions of the world, and that presents some variations in the epidemiological cycle, according to the species of the etiological agent, the geographical area concerned and species of susceptible mammals that are exposed to the risk of infection. In order to carry out this thesis, qualitative and quantitative researches were carried out in a theoretical way, as well as field research, among which a systematic review was carried out on the development of the disease through directed studies that permeate the field of diagnosis until the treatment of infected dogs and methods of prevention, followed by a quanl-quantitative field survey in which sources of questionnaires organized by the author were used as sources and applied to health professionals participating in the Basic Health Units and Family Health Centers of municipalities of the State of Paraíba, and then an exploratory descriptive study, based on quantitative research, on secondary sources collected through spreadsheets provided by the State of Paraíba Health Department, as well as artcles published from the year of 2015, which bring in their context data on this topic. The main objectives were to analyze carefully the available scientific information on the factors associated with canine visceral leishmaniasis in South America; to carry out a study of the historical and systematic series about Calazar in the state of Paraíba, evaluating the level of knowledge of health professionals inserted in the UBS and NSF located in the Brejo Paraibano region on the disease, showing the occurrence of VL in Paraíba through an observational study cross-sectional data from the Ministry of Health in 2017. From this study it is necessary to invest in training strategies on visceral leishmaniasis, aiming at correcting knowledge deficiencies and implementing the discussion on the subject, not forgetting the importance of participation of the veterinarian in public health and in Primary Care Programs.