title: Leishmaniasis in Thailand: A Review of Causative Agents and Situations.
abstract: Before 1999, leishmaniasis was considered an imported disease in Thailand. Since then, autochthonous leishmaniasis was reported in both immmunocompetent and immmunocompromised patients especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A new species was identified and named asLeishmania siamensisconsisting of two lineages, that is, lineages TR and PG. Analysis of isoenzymes has clarified the more commonly detectedL. siamensislineage PG asLeishmania martiniquensis(MON-229), a species originally reported from the Martinique Island, whereas theL. siamensislineage TR has been identified as the true novel species,L. siamensis(MON-324). Both cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been found among Thai patients. Disseminated CL and VL could be presented in some reported patients who had HIV/AIDS coinfection. So far, only sporadic cases have been reported; thus, the true prevalence of leishmaniasis should be determined in Thailand among the high-risk populations such as people with HIV/AIDS. A recent survey among animals identifiedL. martiniquensisDNA in black rats (Rattus rattus) suggesting a potential animal reservoir. In addition,L. martiniquensisDNA was identified inSergentomyia gemmeaandSergentomyia barraudi, the predominant sandfly species in the affected areas. However, further studies are needed to prove that these sandflies could serve as the vector of leishmaniasis in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Saovanee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leelayoova
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suradej
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siripattanapipong
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jipada
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manomat
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Phunlerd
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piyaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Peerapan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tan-Ariya
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Trang Hospital, Trang Province, Thailand.
authors.forename: Lertwut
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bualert
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Mathirut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mungthin
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D060085:Coinfection / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D051381:Rats; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan