title: A cluster of four cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in Cyprus: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 95 countries and is the only tropical/subtropical vector-borne disease that has been endemic in Southern Europe for decades. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani in a child and the first cluster with adult cases reported in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a familial cluster of four cutaneous leishmaniasis cases among Greek Cypriots caused by L. donovani in a Paphos village, in Cyprus. A 6-year-old boy (Case number 1) had a persistent lesion in the left angle of his upper lip, a 60-year-old woman (Case number 2) presented with a 2 cm-diameter glabella lesion on her forehead, a 60-year-old man (Case number 3) developed a lesion on his moustache area and a 40-year-old woman (Case number 4) had a lesion on her neck. In Case number 3 the lesion was self-cured; the other cases recovered after surgical resection followed by liposomal amphotericin B (Case numbers 1 and 4) or thermotherapy and liposomal amphotericin B (Case number 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This familial cluster of cutaneous leishmaniasis, due to the anthroponotic L. donovani, shows that the sand fly species responsible for transmitting this parasite species is found in the area around the three neighbouring houses involved. The factors favourable for the survival, spread and contact of the vector with people could be assessed in this area for the establishment of preventative measures to safeguard public health.
authors.affiliation: Archbishop Makarios Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, 6 Korytsas St,, Strovolos, 1474 Nicosia, Cyprus. mkoliou@spidernet.com.cy.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Koliou
authors.forename: Yiannakis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazeris
authors.forename: Elpidoforos S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Soteriades
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003535:Cyprus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000502:physiology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology