First report of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis and Leishmania amazonensis infection in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Abstract

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is characterised by multiple and progressive cutaneous lesions, resistance to chemotherapy and Leishmania-specific T-cell anergy. We report the first autochthonous DCL case and the first human infection with Leishmania amazonensis in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, where only L. braziliensis is considered to be the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania amazonensis was identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and PCR-RFLP. Our case was diagnosed as DCL according to clinical, parasitological, histopathological and immunological criteria. These observations indicate that L. amazonensis is increasing its geographical distribution in Brazil, accounting for unusual clinical presentations in new transmission areas.

Comparative study of the phlebotomine sand fly species (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) of the genera Nyssomyia Barretto, 1962, Bichromomyia Artemiev, 1991, and Migonemyia Galati, 1995, vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

“…Bichromomyia flaviscutellata Mangabeira, 1942, the main vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis , is widely distributed geographically, highly attracted to wild rodents and has already been found naturally infected with L. (L.) amazonensis . These Leishmania cycles occur in primary and secondary forests, mostly in the Legal Amazon Region but also in the states of the northeastern (Bahia), midwestern (Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul), southeastern (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), and southern (Paraná) regions of the country (Ashford 2000;Dorval et al 2006;Brasil 2007;Azeredo-Coutinho et al 2007;Rangel & Lainson 2009). …”

Epoxy-α-Lapachone Has In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis Effects and Inhibits Serine Proteinase Activity in This Parasite

“…In Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is a species described to cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations (2), accounting for unusual clinical presentations (3). Great genetic diversity among strains isolated from patients (4) has been reported, as well as a trend toward increasing geographical distribution.…”

Development and validation of PCR-based assays for diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis and identificatio nof the parasite species

“…In Brazil, there are two attributes of Leishmania braziliensis that warrant particular attention: (i) the species is widely distributed and is often the sole or primary etiological agent of CL in several endemic areas and (ii) it is associated with the mucocutaneous form of the disease. However, this situation regarding Leishmania species is not static, as a few studies have revealed the presence of some species in areas where they had not previously been recorded (Azeredo-Coutinho et al 2007, Azpurua et al 2010, van Thiel et al 2010, and other pathogenic species, such as Leishmania guyanensis, have been demonstrated to play an important role in the epidemiology of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis .…”