Search

The estimation of changes in the diversity and composition of insect communities in transmission areas belonging to different life zones, can indicate differential patterns in transmission and associated reservoir fauna, as well as different epidemiological risk scenarios. An example is leishmaniasis, a parasitosis related to the presence of phlebotomine sandflies of the Lutzomyia genus, which in Córdoba (Colombia) presents transmission areas for cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis, framed in different life zones - Holdridge (Bs-T, Bh-T, among others). The present study aims to estimate the diversity of entomological inventories carried out in different areas with presence of potential leishmaniasis vectors, in 17 localities of ten municipalities of the department of Córdoba, between May 2015 and November 2016. A total of 1695 phlebotomine sandflies represented in 13 species of the genus Lutzomyia were collected. The most abundant species for the department of Córdoba are Lutzomyia evansi and Lutzomyia gomezi, with 30.44 % and 29.62 %, respectively. The presence of Lutzomyia trapidoi is reported for the first time for the territory of Córdoba. With this study, the knowledge of the diversity of the genus Lutzomyia in terms of abundance distribution, true diversities and species composition in active zones of the department of Córdoba is expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lutzomyia has a variety of species, where some are vectors of the disease called leishmaniasis which has implications for public health developing different clinical manifestations that highly affect humans such as cutaneous, visceral and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The aim of the study was to update the registry of the Lutzomyia species that are present in six areas of the Atlántico department. Three traditional capture techniques were implemented, with CDC traps implemented from 18:00 to 6:00 o'clock, Shannon traps from 19:00 to 10:00 and active search with mouth aspirators on trunks, tree bases and other rest sites from 09:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to 17:30, in six municipalities of the Atlántico department, Colombia. Ten phlebotomine species were captured during the present work, from which the finding of Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia atroclavata are reported for the first time at the Atlántico department. From the ten species captured, Lutzomyia longipalpis has antecedents as a vector of Leishmania infantum in Colombia and other regions of Latin America. The most abundant species with the greatest spatial distribution was Lu. evansi, which is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Caribbean region. In conclusion, the richness of phlebotomineal fauna of the department of Atlántico is updated to twelve species, with the first record of Lu. longipalpis and Lu. atroclavata. Phlebotomy fauna is also reported for the first time in localities of the department of Atlántico such as Campeche, Puerto Colombia, Luruaco, Ponedera and Campo de la Cruz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews historical and epidemiological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis located in Costa Rica, as the clinical variants that have prevailed over time in the country. Declared as a mandatory reportable disease to the Ministry of Health since 1983, leishmaniasis is currently collectively notified and reporting it in recent years has remained among the top ten diseases of mandatory reporting in the country. This anthropozoonosis has held through the years an important role within the public health problems in the continent. The cutaneous form has prevailed over other forms in the territory of the Americas. In Costa Rica not all known clinical forms have been described, dating back from 1999 when the only case of visceral leishmaniasis in this country was published. Today it remains endemic in the country (except Guanacaste). The province of Limon is the one with the highest number of cases being the most affected counties Talamanca, Matina, Guácimo, Limón Centro, followed by Siquirres and Pococí. This paper makes a description of statistical data based on the last outbreak occurred in the Area of Health Guácimo in the province of Limón in the first quarter of 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: visceral leishmaniasis is the most serious clinical picture of leishmaniasis or kala azar. In Mexico it is a rare disease, which is a reason why it is diagnosed late concluding with patient's death most of the time. We present a clinical case of an HIV-positive male patient who developed visceral leishmaniasis, with the objective of showing the pathophysiological characteristics as well as the diagnostic approach and treatment. Clinical case: a 45-year-old male, a water utility company worker, presented to the hospital as having chronic bloody diarrhea, abdominal distension, cramping pain, weight loss and fever. On physical examination, he was febrile, with pain localized to the right lower quadrant and hepatosplenomegaly. The ELISA test for HIV was positive and the ultrasound showed a cecal tumor. A tumor biopsy was performed and the pathology report described leishmaniasis. Conclusions: in patients with leishmaniasis and HIV the response to treatment is poor and the mortality rate is high due to lower immune response from the host. Current studies suggest treating these patients with HIV and leishmaniasis with pertinent drugs in combination with miltefosine and liposomal amphotericin B [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American visceral leishmaniasis clinically manifested by fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and sometimes may have anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, because bone marrow may be involvement as part of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The study of bone marrow is a resource for a rapid, easy and affordable diagnostic of this entity. It also serves to make a differential diagnosis including myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative diseases. We present three cases of LVA in our hospital; one of them was treated with amphotericin B responded well to healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the ecology of phlebotominae in the population of La Rinconada, in the state of Lara, Venezuela, endemic zone of Leishmaniasis, where cases of American Visceral Leshmaniasis (AVL) have been described, a longitudinal study was conducted during five months, and the presence of phlebotominae was identified one night per month in the surrounding areas of a home where an AVL case had been reported. Six species were found, of which only two were anthropophilic. The most abundant species was Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis (90%), the abundance peak was observed in July - a dry month preceding the rainiest months of the year. Although in our sample we have not found any evidence that phlebotominae were infected by Leishmania; evidence presented is important for a better understanding of a vector that participates in AVL transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The parasite Leishmania sp. must adapt the physiological conditions of the digestive tract of the insect that transmits, to ensure their survival and subsequent transmission to the vertebrate host. Leishmania-vector interaction depends on several factors, including the agglutinins of the digestive tract of sandflies, involved along with lipophosphoglycan molecules of the parasite surface, the adhesion of the latter, the intestinal epithelium of the insect. Therefore, both molecules are involved in susceptibility of the sandfly species to infection. Objective. To measure and compare the agglutination titer between midgut lysates L. longipalpis and L. evansi wild and colony with L. infantum promastigotes. Materials and Methods. The methodology consisted in the evaluation of three groups of lysates of midgut Lutzomyia females, one of females captured in the wild, and two other colony, a females taken 48-hours blood ingest and the other females maintained with a sugary diet for 48 hours. Results. Find different titles of agglutination between promastigotes of different days of colony of L. infantum and lysates of midgut of L. evansi and L. longipalpis. The only species that register agglutination in dilutions of 1:64 is L. longipalpis. Conclusion. This study revealed the presence of agglutinins against promastigotes of L. infantum in populations of wild habitat and of colony of L. evansi and L. longipalpis, but higher in the latter species of phlebotomies. Titles of agglutination increase as it does, the time of cultivation of the Leishmania promastigotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to evaluate knowledge about visceral leishmaniasis in the communities of La Guardia and La Pista, Diaz and Gomez Municipalities, Margarita Island, State of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. The selection was based on different socio-demographic factors, disease incidence and the fact that they had been intervened by the control program in 1998-2000. The head of each of 60 households selected by simple random sampling was interviewed to determine knowledge about the disease and preventive measures. Collected data were systematized in an Excel-type data base and analyzed with Epi-info 2000 to determine knowledge about the disease and preventive measures. Results: The educational strategies applied in the two communities did not generate a significant impact in terms of knowledge about and preventive measures for this endemic disease; data only reflected a higher proportion of interviewees in La Pista that knew about the disease. Conclusions: The importance of studying the socio-cultural profile in the communities is emphasized to obtain a base line for the management and sustainability of educational programs about prevention and control of visceral leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 65-year-old man presented with fever, weight loss, splenomegaly and universal distribution petechiae. Situs Inversus Totalis(SIT) in addition to Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) was diagnosed with positive serology for rk39 and indirect immunofluorescence in absence of amastigotes in bone marrow aspiration. Treatment with amphotericin B was established with successful response, the goal is to introduce an unusual case of congenital condition with variation of internal organs position in addition to VL in an immunocompetent patient. In conclusion, SIT may cause diagnostic and therapeutic errors and this case illustrates how to handle VL in a patient with SIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Visceral Leishmaniosis (HVL) is considered by the WHO a major endemic infection in the world. HVL in Venezuela Margarita's Island has a 16 times higher frequency than in any other Venezuelan area. Since 1998 it is considered the major endemic zone of the country. From january 2004 to april 2008, 7 cases of HVL in Altagracia town were reported; out of them, 6 were pediatric cases; representing the major endemic zone of Nueva Esparta. Objective: to study the clinical-epidemiological and laboratory findings of HVL in pediatric cases originated in Altagracia, Nueva Esparta, during dates january 2004 - april 2008. Patients and Methods: this is a retrospective and descriptive investigation of 6 pediatrics cases with clinical-epidemiological and positive serology for rk39 of HVL diagnosis. Results: 66,6% of the cases were 1 to 4 years old, with equal proportion of males and females. Socioeconomical status was Graffar IV and V on a 1:1 ratio; 100% of them were in contact with dogs and 50% with poultry. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly and anemia were present in 100% of cases, neutropenia in 66.6 % and thrombocytopenia in 50% of them. Conclusions: HVL is a public health problem in Nueva Esparta and particularly in Altagracia town, which has many shanty houses, with poor access to water and gargabe disposal basic servicies, home overcrowding and uncontrolled domestic animals; all favouring the persistance and interfering with elimination of the HVL vector. The clinical features of all cases were prolonged fever, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Venezuela, known to exist Visceral leishmaniasis since 1941, and since 1990 are reported on average 50 cases per year, separate sources located in central, west south and east of country. The incidence of visceral Leishmaniasis in Venezuela Cojedes state is low, being reported only three cases in the decade 1998 to 2007. In this article, we reported the first case of visceral leishmaniasis in adult in this state, diagnosed by demonstration of the parasite by peripheral blood smear. Is highlighted, having the possibility of diagnosis from peripheral blood, as an alternative and less invasive in the acute phase, particularly in regions where there are no other screening tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]