An outbreak of american cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis) in a periurban area of Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil: clinical and epidemiological studies

Abstract

From July 1984 to September 1986, 105 cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis were studied in a locality closely situated to an urbanized area of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Settlement in this area was established at least 20 years ago but the first cases were noted six months prior to the beginning of this study. Cases were almost exclusively cutaneous and ulcerated, with one to six months of evolution. Montenegro's skin tests were positive in all cases and anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence test in 74.3% of the patients. Parasites were demonstrated in 69.5% of cases. Domestic animals were easily found infected: 32% of the examined dogs and 30.8% of the examined equines were positive to the presence of Leishmania in cutaneous ulcerated lesions. Parasite isolates from human, dog and equines were immunologically characterized and identified as L. b. braziliensis. 73.0% of the sandfly population were Lutzomyia intermedia mainly caught on human baits and on domestic animals. Our observations suggest that this is an area of recent established L. b. braziliensis infection and that transmission probably occurs indoors or outdoors close to the houses.

Leishmanial antigens in the diagnosis of active lesions and ancient scars of American tegumentary leishmaniasis patients

“…Because it is difficult to find parasites in active lesions (Marsden 1986), indirect ATL diagnosis is based on epidemiological evidence as well as clinical aspects, MST, serology and histopathological examination. The magnitude of response to the specific treatment may also help to confirm the hypothesized diagnosis (Oliveira-Neto et al 1988). In this study, indirect diagnosis was reached in 93.4% of the patients studied in Group I and that is a high percentage of positivity.…”

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Peruvian Andes: an epidemiological study of infection and immunity

“…An (MST). The explanation usually suggested for this apparent lack of specificity is that these people were exposed to sub-clinical leishmanial transmission, possibly because they were infected with avirulent (non-pathogenic) parasites [9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…The value of rp calculated from previous cross-sectional studies varies considerably, for example: 0-02 [16], 0 03 [17], 0 07 [11], 0-11 [18], 0-22 [19], 0-25 [12], 0-67 [20], and 1-0 [21].…”

Tentativa de controle da leishmaniose tegumentar americana por meio do tratamento dos cães doentes

“…Nos últimos anos, a leishmaniose tegumentar americana tem sido registrada em áreas de colonização antiga de diversos estados brasileiros, onde apresenta características epidemiológi-cas diferentes do padrão clássico de transmissão silvestre Araújo-Filho, 1978;Barreto et al, 1984;Barros et al, 1985;Sessa et al, 1985;Oliveira-Neto et al, 1988). Nessas áreas, onde a doença acomete indistintamente adultos e crianças de ambos os sexos, também os cães estão freqüentemente parasitados (Falqueto, 1984;Coutinho et al, 1985;Aguilar et al, 1989).…”