Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania chagasi/Le. infantum in an endemic area of Guarico State, Venezuela.
This study reports cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania chagasi/Le. infantum in Venezuela, with some atypical characteristics. Out of 63 cases of CL in the suburbs of Altagracia de Orituco, Guarico State, Venezuela, 30 presented clinical, parasitological, immunological and epidemiological features different from those of the classical CL known in the country. The initial lesion was small and nodular, which, if not treated, might progress to a superficial ulcer. No secondary infection was observed. The identification of the isolates was carried out by molecular techniques. Twelve species of phlebotomine sandflies were caught, the most abundant being Lutzomyia evansi and Lu. longipalpis s.l., known vectors of Le. chagasi/Le. infantum. The existence of Le. chagasi/Le. infantum and its vectors in an endemic area of CL has implications and we suggest that epidemiological studies should be carried out to obtain a clearer picture of the extent of this CL form in Venezuela.
De Lima
H
H
Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela/Ministerio de Salud, Apartado 4043, Caracas 1010A, Venezuela. delimah@gmail.com
Rodríguez
N
N
Feliciangeli
M D
MD
Barrios
M A
MA
Sosa
A
A
Agrela
I
I
Sánchez
E
E
Lopez
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult