Cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Venezuela caused by infection with Leishmania venezuelensis and L. braziliensis variants

Abstract

Between 1975 and 1987, epidemiological studies were carried out in several rural and urban communities in the central part of western Venezuela, especially in the state of Lara. 115 positive cultures were obtained from human cases and identified by their reactivity patterns to a cross-panel of specific monoclonal antibodies using a radioimmune binding assay; 53 were Leishmania venezuelensis and 62 were L. braziliensis. Most of these stocks were also characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis, which confirmed the identification of the L. venezuelensis isolates. The enzyme electrophoretic profiles of the L. braziliensis isolates, however, revealed two populations with distinct electromorphs, one related to the World Health Organization L. braziliensis reference strain while the other population appeared to be a hybrid between L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis. L. braziliensis variants showed the widest geographical distribution, and were found in 7 states: Districto Federal (Caracas); Lara (Barquisimeto, Crespo, Iribarren, Jimenez, Morán, Palavecino, Torres, Urdaneta); Nueva Esparta (Margarita); Portuguesa (Las Cruces, Rio Amarillo); Trujillo (Cuicas); Yaracuy (Agua Fria, Cambural, Guaremal); and Zulia (Zipa-Yare). L. venezuelensis was found in the following endemic regions: Lara (Barquisimeto, Iribarren, Jimenez, Morán); Merida (Zéa); and Yaracuy (Campos Elias), showing that this parasite has a much wider geographical distribution than was initially recognized and that both these species can occur simultaneously within the same endemic region. Five isolates of L. braziliensis were made from infected donkeys (Equus asinus) in Urdaneta, Lara State, suggesting a possible domestic reservoir of L. braziliensis.

Ecology of the Leishmania Species in the Guianan Ecoregion Complex

“…In Venezuela, donkeys (Equus asinus), dogs, and cats have been reported infected. [167][168][169][170] The importance of dogs as a reservoir of this parasite has been reported. 171 In Venezuela, the transmission seemed to occur peri-domestically by Lu.…”

Clinical and Epidemiologic Profile of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombian Children: Considerations for Local Treatment

“…Reported prevalence in children under 15 years of age has varied from 13% to 35% in endemic areas in Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina. [6][7][8] In Colombia from 2003 to 2009, annually reported cases ranged from 7,382 to 18,155, with from 10.3% to 26.6% of cases being children under 15 years of age (Public Health Epidemiologic Surveillance Group of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and Colombian National Institutes of Health).…”

Leishmania species identification using FTA card sampling directly from patients’ cutaneous lesions in the state of Lara, Venezuela

“…8 Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in the state of Lara located in western 4 Venezuela, and the causative parasites have been identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) venezuelensis. [9][10][11][12] L. (L.) venezuelensis was originally described on the basis of distinguishable MLEE patterns as a species independent of other members of the L. mexicana complex 9,10 . Further, a serodeme-based analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies was performed to Here, a molecular epidemiological study was performed by using FTA card materials directly sampled from lesions of patients with CL in the state of Lara, Venezuela, and the causative species for CL in this area were genetically characterized.…”