SEROPREVALENCE OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN BODIES FROM THE DEATH VERIFICATION SERVICE (SVO) OF BARBALHA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL.
Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Leishmania; Seroepidemiologic Studies.
Leishmaniases are known as chronic, non-contagious infectious diseases, characterized as Neglected
Tropical Diseases (NTDs), having as their etiological agent several species of protozoa of the
Trypanosomatidea family, of the Leishmania genus. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), as it is the most severe
of the clinical forms, when left untreated, up to around 90% of cases can lead to death due to parasitic
involvement of various organs, especially bone marrow, spleen and liver. Considering the clinical
importance of VL, the endemicity of this disease in Cariri Cearense and the lack of knowledge of HIV-
positive people in the aforementioned region, a test was carried out to evaluate the seroprevalence of
visceral leishmaniasis in bodies from the Death Verification Service of Barbalha, Ceará, Brazil. Primary
study of an observational, cross-sectional nature, with uncontrolled prevalence, using an
immunoenzymatic assay to identify the k39 antigen. Therefore, a low prevalence rate of VL was
observed, but with relevant results regarding involvement with SARS-CoV-2, Syphilis and Hepatitis C.