An Epidemic Outbreak of Canine Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombia Caused by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania panamensis

Abstract

Abstract. The largest recorded outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia's history occurred during [2005][2006][2007][2008][2009] in soldiers of the Colombian Army, with~40,000 cases. This outbreak was caused by the influx of military personnel into the jungle with the mission of combat illicit crops and the guerrilla. The soldiers remain for long periods within the rainforest and are exposed to the bite of infected sand flies. During the military activities, soldiers work with dogs specially trained to detect landmines, and therefore, dogs are also exposed to the infected sand flies and show high incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). This work describes an epidemic outbreak of canine CL caused by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania panamensis in Colombia, South America. The clinical features of the disease and the response to treatment with pentavalent antimonials observed in 72 guard dogs from the Colombian Army are described. A program for prevention and control of canine CL is also discussed.

Identification of Six New World Leishmania species through the implementation of a High-Resolution Melting (HRM) genotyping assay

“…From the Leishmania subgenus, the species Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (chagasi) (related to Visceral Leishmaniasis) and the species of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonesis and Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana are responsible for the mucocutaneous, cutaneous and diffuse manifestations [6,7]. These parasite species have a wide geographic distribution from Mexico to the north of Argentina [6], with a significant increase in the last years in the number of cases in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru [6,[8][9][10]. The epidemiological complexity can be accompanied by a clinical difficulty when some infections, such as the one caused by L. braziliensis, appear in a cutaneous form and after selfhealing reappear years later in a mucocutaneous form.…”

Alta prevalencia de infección por Leishmania (Kinetoplastidae: Trypanosomatidae) en caninos del norte de Colombia

“…La alta tasa de infección por Leishmania spp. en perros (33,6 %) de áreas rurales del departamento de Sucre, es indiscutiblemente una de las mayores tasas de prevalencia de leishmaniasis canina en el país (9,27) e indica un progresivo incremento de la infección en perros de esta región como una probable consecuencia de la escasa efectividad de las medidas hasta ahora implementadas para su control, como la eliminación de perros seropositivos (30 (33), así como la coexistencia de leishmaniasis visceral y cutánea en los tres municipios analizados (34), ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de realizar estudios adicionales para establecer la especie de Leishmania que infecta a los perros en esta región y precisar el papel de estos como fuente de infección para el insecto vector.…”

Canine Leishmaniosis: tools for diagnosis in veterinary practice in Colombia

“…Se constituye como un grave problema tanto de salud pública como para el médico veterinario. El pronóstico en los animales es peor que en los humanos, debido a las dificultades y a la ineficacia en el tratamiento, lo que deriva en la decisión de sacrificar los animales positivos, sobre todo en lugares donde es endémica, hay un alto número de casos humanos y poca disponibilidad de terapias alternativas (1).…”

“…The prognosis in animals is worse than in humans due to the difficulties and to the inefficiency of the treatment, which leads to the decision to sacrifice positive animals. In endemic places there is a particularly high number of human cases and little availability of alternative therapies (1).…”