Abstract

REYES, Adriana  and  ARRIVILLAGA, Jazzmin. Mammalia fauna associated to foci of neotropical leishmaniasis: Situation in Venezuela. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2009, vol.49, n.1, pp.35-52. ISSN 1690-4648.

The potential host-reservoir fauna for Leishmania in Venezuela is not well known. The infected mammals checklist for the neotropical region, can be useful as base of design of distribution maps for potential hosts in Venezuela. Rodents are the most important hosts for Leishmania in the neotropics, which is a biological evidence for the use of murine models for in vivo studies in leishmaniasis. The animal surveys in leishmaniasis studies have shown that the families Echimyidae, Cricetidae and Muridae are the most representative hosts. In Venezuela, species belonging to Oryzomys, Heteromys, Proechimys and Rattus genera have been reported as infected by Leishmania. However, species of Xenarthra, Didelphydae and wild carnivores have not been reported infected, and these are potentially epidemiological important, based on their susceptible host capacity, their ecology and the congruent geographical distribution with leishmaniasis foci. The association of these mammals as potential hosts-reservoirs with the occurrence of Leishmania and also with the infected vectors must be explained based on the population dynamics and ecology of these links and the disease. Nevertheless, the parasitological studies on reservoirs are supported in the search of natural infection only, without finding their role in the transmission cycle. Population ecology studies in mammals must be mandatory in leishmaniasis areas, in order to understand the epidemiological dynamic and especially to design more effectives multidisciplinary strategies for the disease management.

Keywords : leishmaniasis; mammals; rodents; Venezuela.