23 June 2010
BOXMEER (The Netherlands)
BOXMEER (The Netherlands) June 23, 2010 - Delegates at the 2nd International Congress on Canine Leishmaniasis, which was recently held in the Italian city of Pisa, heard how a readily-available deltamethrin-impregnated collar had proven to be a cost-effective method of controlling visceral Leishmaniasis in both human and canine populations in Brazil.
The research undertaken by Dr. Camargo-Neves and colleagues at Sao Paulo State University (Brazil) demonstrated that by successfully treating the dog population – the reservoir for Leishmaniasis in Brazil – it was possible to impressively preserve human health. Through the use of deltamethrin-impregnated collars (SCALIBOR®), the project achieved 80% effectiveness in reducing canine prevalence, and human and canine incidence rates of Leishmaniasis.* The findings have specific relevance to veterinarians in raising awareness of the disease amongst dog owners and encouraging the use of preventative measures to guard against infection.
Transmitted by infected sand flies, Leishmaniasis is one of a series of vector-borne diseases which, in it's visceral form, accounts for up to half a million new cases of infection in the human population and 60,000 deaths worldwide annually. Since 1980, Brazil experienced a steady increase in cases of human Leishmaniasis, primarily in urban areas where asymptomatic dogs with positive serology were creating a disease reservoir. Authorities invested more than US$ 140 million (1984–1996) to eradicate the disease and its vectors (spraying one million homes, testing 6.5 million dogs and destroying more than 150,000 test-positive dogs) yet were only able to stabilize the number of human Leishmaniasis outbreaks; annual reported cases were still counted in the thousands with a small percentage proving fatal (2008, 5.7%). By contrast, when SCALIBOR collars were fitted for the 25-month study period, there was a dramatic decline in the incidence of this disease in humans from 34.1 cases per 100,000 of the population at the start of the program to 3.6 per 100,000 when the last collar was fitted.
In addition to the obvious benefit in disease control, the cost-effectiveness of the collar was also worth noting. The cost of one cycle of previous control measures with insecticide plus canine survey (diagnosis, collection and euthanasia) was more than US$ 14,000, compared to US$ 5,000 for one cycle of intervention with collars and the canine survey.
Speaking at the conference on her findings, Dr. Camargo-Neves commented; “Leishmaniasis is a horrific disease, both in dogs and humans. Whilst countries which are at risk of human Leishmaniasis outbreaks, such as Brazil, remain active in the control of this disease it is equally important that those countries where it is not endemic should implement control measures to prevent infection of the canine population. Continuous changes to our environment and global temperature shifts suggest we cannot be sure that the Leishmaniasis landscape we currently live with will be the same in the future.”
Dr. Thierry Martine from Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health, the makers of SCALIBOR, commented: “Veterinarians in endemic countries are aware of the need to reduce outbreaks by protecting against Leishmaniasis. However, with increased movement of people and animals, and changes in seasonal temperatures, it is essential that the veterinarian community at large and pet owners remain vigilant to the disease and are mindful of the risks posed. Increasingly, veterinarians are being asked to provide cost- effective solutions in the preventative health care of pets and this collar could be one such solution.”
*Reference:
Camargo-Neves V, Rodas L, Calemes E, Pauliquevis Jr. C, Silva LJ. (2010) Cost effectiveness of deltamethrin impregnated collars (Scalibor®) for the control of visceral leishmaniasis in human and canine populations in Brazil. In Proceedings 2nd International Congress on Canine Leishmaniasis, 17-18th April 2010, Pisa, Italy. pp. 118-120.
