Increasing potential risk for American visceral leishmaniasis in Amapá, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION

: The present note discusses some evidence on the increasing potential risk for American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) transmission in the Northern Brazilian State of Amapá, the Guianan-Amazon biome.

METHODS

Early and present data about AVL were collected, including our recent entomological findings.

RESULTS

: The spread of the sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis, and a sylvatic reservoir host, the crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous in that region represents important findings related to the epidemiology of AVL in the Guianan-Amazon biome.

CONCLUSIONS

: These observations suggest that Brazilian authorities need to develop surveillance strategies in these risk areas.