Taxonomy, diversity, temporal and geographical distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombia: A retrospective study

Abstract

Leishmaniases are tropical zoonotic diseases, caused by kinetoplastid parasites from the genus Leishmania. New World (NW) species are related to sylvatic cycles although urbanization processes have been reported in some South American Countries such as Colombia. Currently, few studies show the relative distribution of Leishmania species related to cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in South America due to the lack of accurate surveillance and public health systems. Herein, we conducted a systematic estimation of the Leishmania species causing CL in Colombia from 1980 to 2001 via molecular typing and isoenzymes. A total of 327 Leishmania isolates from humans, sandflies and reservoirs were typed as L. panamensis 61.3% (201), L. braziliensis 27.1% (88), L. lainsoni 0.6% (2), L. guyanensis 0.9% (3), L. infantum chagasi 4% (12), L. equatoriensis 0.6% (2), L. mexicana 2.1% (8), L. amazonensis 2.8% (9) and L. colombiensis 0.6% (2). This is the first report of two new Leishmania species circulating in Colombia and suggests the need to convince the Colombian government about the need to deploy and standardize tools for the species identification to provide adequate management to individuals suffering this pathology.

Para-kala-azar dermal Leishmaniasis cases in Indian subcontinent – A case series

“…1 Leishmaniasis occurs in three forms, VL (lethal inflammation of liver and spleen), destructive mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and cutaneous leishmaniasis of skin where it heals spontaneously. 2 In India the parasite Leishmania donovani is responsible for VL as well as postkala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). 3 Both the diseases have different clinical manifestation; in VL, patients experience fever, hepato-splenomegaly, weight loss, weakness, and pancytopenia, whereas PKDL appears in the skin as macular, papular, and nodular lesions or combination of these.…”

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS): one more reason for a new effective treatment against leishmaniasis

“…Moreover, Colombia is the first country in the world with the highest number of species described (9 species). [16][17][18][19]68 Interestingly, Sb5+ is the first line of treatment for leishmaniasis despite the previous adverse effects which threaten the patient's life. Therefore, we invite future research with a new pharmacological approach and with less toxicity, such as liposomal amphotericin, which could be the first line of management.…”

Prediction and Prevention of Parasitic Diseases Using a Landscape Genomics Framework

“…The distinct pathologies ascribe to certain subsets of Leishmania species [54], yet these may also proliferate as natural hybrids of enhanced virulence, resistance and plasticity [55]. For good reason, therefore, underdeveloped molecular surveillance strategies are now remonstrated in such places as Colombia, where massive efforts to innovate this area are currently underway [56]. Elsewhere, especially in Brazil, much effort has been devoted to ecological niche modelling (ENM) to inform Leishmania control.…”