title: Leishmaniases in Bolivia: comprehensive review and current status.
abstract: The leishmaniases are protozoan, zoonotic diseases transmitted to human and other mammal hosts by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies. Bolivia has the highest incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Latin America (LA), with 33 cases per 100,000 population reported in 2006. CL is endemic in seven of the country's nine administrative departments. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is comparatively rare and is restricted to one single focus. Most CL cases are caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (85% cases); VL is caused by L. (L.) infantum. Seven sandfly species are incriminated as vectors and Leishmania infections have been detected in several non-human mammal hosts. Transmission is associated with forest-related activities, but recently, cases of autochthonous, urban transmission were reported. Because most cases are caused by L. (V.) braziliensis, Bolivia reports the greatest ratio (i.e., up to 20% of all cases) of mucosal leishmaniasis to localized CL cases in LA. Per national guidelines, both CL and VL cases are microscopically diagnosed and treated with pentavalent antimony.
authors.affiliation: CUMETROP, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parrado
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reithinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy*; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification