American tegumentary leishmaniasis: epidemiological and molecular characterization of prevalent Leishmania species in the State of Tocantins, Brazil, 2011-2015

Abstract

Determination of the epidemiological profile of the American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and identification of Leishmania species that are prevalent in the State of Tocantins were carried out through a retrospective and descriptive study based on data reported in SINAN, in the period from 2011 to 2015. Molecular techniques such as PCR-RFLP and PCR-G6PD to amplify Leishmania DNA were performed on stored on Giemsa-stained slides from lesion scarifications of ATL patients who were amastigote-positive by the direct microscopic examination. There were 1,434 ATL cases in Tocantins reported in this period. The highest incidence was reported in men aged over 60 years, rural residents, the most affected ethnic group was mixed ethnicity (mixed black and white) and the ones with lower education. The predominant clinical form was cutaneous, being diagnosed mainly by laboratory methods. Pentavalent antimonial was effective in resolving cases. The predominant species found in 271 analyzed samples from 32 municipalities located in 8 different health regions of Tocantins was Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Identifying the epidemiological profile and characterizing the Leishmania spp species on regional level is essential to establish control and prevention behaviors, minimizing the number of cases and treatment resistance, recurrence and evolution to mucosal forms.

Profile of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in transmission areas in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2007 to 2017

“…The results observed for the associations among brown skin, age 4 (60 years or older), females, infection in rural areas, and disease confirmation using the clinicalepidemiological criteria are similar to those obtained in other published reports [2]. Furthermore, the present study verified that adult males are the most affected, while children and women are affected to a lesser degree.…”

“…We observed that municipalities with a moderate (21 to 50) to high (51 to 828) number of confirmed ATL cases were associated with the following characteristics: pregnancy, indigenous population, peri-urban zone, yellow-skinned individuals, and children younger than 1-year-old. Municipalities with a low number of ATL cases (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) were associated with characteristics, such as education level, age range, skin color (not black-or yellow-skinned), and non-indigenous origin. The confirmation criteria were not clinical and epidemiological, and the infection did not occur in peri-urban areas.…”

“…American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is a widespread zoonotic disease that has a global impact [1]. It is caused by the protozoa of the genus Leishmania and is considered a serious public health problem [2]. Phlebotomine sand flies, such as Nyssomyia spp.…”

Clinical and epidemiological profiles of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis from the states of Pernambuco and Amazonas, Brazil

“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leishmaniasis is one of the seven most important tropical diseases in the world 1 . Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonosis caused by different species of protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania (Order: Kinetoplastida, Family: Trypanosomatidae) 2 , which are intracellular parasites of the mononuclear phagocytic system and are transmitted to humans and wild or domestic animals through the bite of infected sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus (Old World) or Lutzomyia (New World) 1 , 3 , 4 .…”

Epidemiological profile of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the municipality of Manhuaçu, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…A serious public health problem, ATL is caused by protozoa Leishmania spp. and is characterised by severe skin and mucosal injury CUNHA, 2007;BRASIL, 2009;GOSCH et al, 2017).…”