Conhecimento sobre leishmaniose visceral canina na população do município de Cotia (SP), Brasil, e participação dos clínicos veterinários locais na propagação de medidas preventivas

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or American visceral leishmaniasis, a zoonotic disease initially associated with rural areas, is expanding in the state of São Paulo. Toward the metropolitan regions of São Paulo since the first autochthonous cases in dogs reported in 1998, with consequent increase in the human population, the disease is becoming an important concern for public health in the state. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the knowledge of the population from the city of Cotia (SP), Brazil, on this disease, as well as of the veterinarians and their participation on the transfer of information about its prevention. Results showed that 98.6% of 860 residents had no prior knowledge of the VL. We also observed a statistically significant association between knowledge of the disease and owners with family income greater than six minimum wages when compared to those with incomes up to three minimum wages. No method of preventing VL in the dog was reported by 99.2% of respondents and 99.8% of dog owners had never heard about the vaccine against canine VL. The investigation showed that the main clinical signs of canine VL were known by 37,5% of veterinarians and 62,5% of them had given usual orientations on the prevention of VL to animal owners.