Visceral Leishmaniasis in Bolivia: Current Status

Abstract

Introduction: In Bolivia, before 1982 there were no records of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases that would allow us to review and describe the temporospatial occurrence of VL by ecoregions in provinces and departments of Bolivia to evaluate its impact on public health, risk of outbreaks, or dispersion. Methods: This update on VL in Bolivia is based on research, reviews, and retrospective literature analyses of online data and libraries and institutional reports, from 1939 to the present. Results: In Bolivia, 56 cases of VL have been reported. Until 2014, only three endemic departments had been identified (La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Tarija). Since then, further cases have been recorded in Pando, Cochabamba, and Beni, and in Chuquisaca in 2015. In Yungas, a VL focus was confirmed by isolating and comparing parasites from human and dog cases, and from the Lu. longipalpis vector. VL cases from seven departments, involving 12 different ecoregions were located within the Amazon and Plata basins. Conclusions: We confirmed that dogs are its primary reservoir, and Lutzomyia longipalpis is its main vector (currently dispersed in six departments). The primary vectors in areas where Lutzomyia longipalpis is absent are Migonemyia migonei and Lutzomyia cruzi.

Hernia de Amyand, Manejo Quirúrgico ante un Diagnóstico Infrecuente

“…En Bolivia, la infección por leishmania en niños es reportado con menor frecuencia 15 , probablemente como consecuencia de las falencias del sistema de reporte de casos 4 . Aunque los mismos responden satisfactoriamente al tratamiento con Glucantime®(Antimoniato de meglumina) 8 , llamó la atención, la falta de respuesta a la aplicación de dos series del tratamiento con Glucantime® en los seis niños atendidos en el Hospital de Niños Manuel Asencio Villarroel de la ciudad de Cochabamba que se presenta en este reporte de casos y que tuvieron que ser tratados con anfotericina B, identificado como de segunda línea de acuerdo con la normativa boliviana 16 .…”

Canine leishmaniasis in the Americas: etiology, distribution, and clinical and zoonotic importance

“…longipalpis is absent, other species may be acting as local vectors of L. infantum . For instance, Lutzomyia cruzi is considered a vector of L. infantum in Corumbá city (Mato Grosso do Sul state, central-western Brazil) [ 83 ] and Bolivia [ 84 ]. Similarly, Migonemyia migonei is also a permissive vector of L. infantum and suspected to be involved in its transmission in some areas of Brazil [ 85 ] and Bolivia [ 84 ].…”

“…For instance, Lutzomyia cruzi is considered a vector of L. infantum in Corumbá city (Mato Grosso do Sul state, central-western Brazil) [ 83 ] and Bolivia [ 84 ]. Similarly, Migonemyia migonei is also a permissive vector of L. infantum and suspected to be involved in its transmission in some areas of Brazil [ 85 ] and Bolivia [ 84 ]. In the USA, Psathyromyia shannoni is a putative vector of L. infantum in areas where cases of canine leishmaniasis have been reported [ 86 ].…”