Response to Dantas-Torres et al. Pet attachment and voluntary community participation in canine Leishmania prevention.

The recent review entitled ‘Canine leishmaniosis in the old and new worlds: unveiled similarities and differences’ by Dantas-Torres et al. calls attention to the practice of dog culling as an approach for control of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil, and we compliment the authors in addressing this issue [1xCanine leishmaniosis in the Old and New Worlds: unveiled similarities and differences. Dantas-Torres, F. et al. Trends Parasitol. 2012; 28: 531–538Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (38)See all References[1]. The program for control of visceral leishmaniasis (PCLV) in Brazil was instituted as a comprehensive strategy to address the emergence and expansion of VL, predominantly in peri-urban areas. Particular aspects of the program, such as the early recognition and subsidized treatment of human cases of VL, have been fairly effective [2xVisceral leishmaniasis in large Brazilian cities: challenges for control. Oliveira, C.D. et al. Cad. Saude Publica. 2008; 24: 2953–2958Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (22)See all References[2]. However, we agree with the authors that the practice of dog culling has proved to be minimally effective, owing to significant delays between testing and culling, constant influx of naive animals, and disease maintenance through vertical transmission in areas with minimal or no dog population controls [2xVisceral leishmaniasis in large Brazilian cities: challenges for control. Oliveira, C.D. et al. Cad. Saude Publica. 2008; 24: 2953–2958Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (22)See all References, 3xTransplacental transmission of Leishmania infantum as a means for continued disease incidence in North America. Boggiatto, P.M. et al. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 2011; 5: e1019Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (40)See all References]. In addition, there are serious ethical concerns regarding mass euthanasia of seropositive dogs each year [4xCanine vector-borne diseases in Brazil. Dantas-Torres, F. Parasit. Vectors. 2008; 1: 25Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (68)See all References, 5xHow effective is dog culling in controlling zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis? A critical evaluation of the science, politics and ethics behind this public health policy. Costa, C.H. Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop. 2011; 44: 232–242Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (41)See all References]. Recently published research demonstrates the significance of the human–pet bond in the peri-urban Brazilian population, where standardized pet attachment levels are similar to those in the US [6xPreventing zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: pet attachment and adoption of community leishmania prevention. Esch, K.J. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2012; 87: 822–831Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (12)See all References[6]. The development of a community adoption model demonstrated the willingness of this community to purchase voluntarily (median USD equivalent $16.46/month) effective means of prevention or treatment for their dogs [6xPreventing zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: pet attachment and adoption of community leishmania prevention. Esch, K.J. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2012; 87: 822–831Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (12)See all References[6]. In fact, pet attachment scores were the factor most significantly associated with owner willingness to purchase monthly prevention voluntarily, regardless of the risk of human infection [6xPreventing zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: pet attachment and adoption of community leishmania prevention. Esch, K.J. et al. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2012; 87: 822–831Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (12)See all References[6]. Dog culling based on seropositivity will continue to foster an adversarial relationship between dog owners and local agencies of zoonoses prevention. Adoption of subsidized mass vaccination and/or topical insecticide use, given that canine treatment would be more cost-effective and more likely to reduce canine and human VL incidence, would gain community support and voluntary community participation in Leishmania control.