Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by members of Leishmania braziliensis complex in Nayarit, State of Mexico

Abstract

An epidemiological study was carried out in the northernUntil 1994 only four cases of MCL were recorded in Mexico. These cases were confined to the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco and the causal agent was considered to be L. (L.) mexicana. In the State of Campeche, LCL was found to be caused by members of L. mexicana complex and by members of the L. braziliensis complex (Velasco et al. 1989a,b, OPS/OMSSecretaria de Salud 1994, Perez-Motul et al. 1994, Hernandez-Montes et al. 1998.Between 1987 and 1994, 326 cases of LCL have been recorded in Nayarit. These cases were attributed to infection with L. (L.) mexicana. Diagnosis of LCL was carried out by serology and skin testing, however Leishmania species were not identified. The presence of L. (V.) braziliensis has, until now, not been recorded in Nayarit (OPS/OMS 1994). Calera de Cofrados, district of Nayarit endemic for LCL, is near to the Pacific coast where the climate is hot with high humidity woods with deep hills surrounded by small brooks.

Survey of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Mexico: Leishmania Species, Clinical Expressions and Risk Factors

“…In our studies using kDNA PCR and hybridization techniques, we have demonstrated that the L. braziliensis complex is present in Nayarit, and we were able to distinguish between two variants or two different species of L.( V.) braziliensis. We believe this was the first report of L.( V.) braziliensis in Nayarit, Mexico [20]. The population affected with skin lesion were 5-65 years old; males were the most affected and their main activity was the harvesting and/or growing coffee.…”

“…Most of the samples amplified giving a band of 617 bp. The PCR products hybridized positively with the LbJ38 probe, which is species specific for L. braziliensis complex [18,20].…”

“…This probe hybridized to L.( V.) braziliensis LTB300 and to DNA from skin biopsies from patients from Campeche and some from Nayarit states (Figure 1) [20]. …”

“…The possible vectors are Lutzomyia cruciata, Lutzomyia diabolica, and Lutzomyia shannoni, which were captured and identified at the plantation. In relation with the animal reservoirs, no studies have been reported [20].…”

Lista actualizada de flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) de la región cafetera colombiana

“…En países como Colombia, Venezuela, México y Brasil, se presentan condiciones óptimas para dicho cultivo, generalmente en zonas montañosas entre los 1.000 y 2.100 msnm, y los casos de leishmaniasis cutánea usualmente se asocian con los complejos Leishmania braziliensis y L. mexicana, y con las especies. L. guyanensis y L. panamensis (35,39,42,(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51).…”