Non-Endemic Leishmaniases Reported Globally in Humans between 2000 and 2021—A Comprehensive Review

Rocha, Rafael; Pereira, André; Maia, Carla

doi:10.3390/pathogens11080921

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 300 publications

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“…Moreover, case notification may vary within countries, judging by the marked differences in HumL incidence in some close by regions. There was evidence for increasing incidence of CL in later years, which is in line with rising rates of migration from and travelling of Europeans to endemic countries [ 155 , 156 ]. This typically benign clinical form is often treated at primary health centers and private clinics and may indeed be extensively underreported [ 157 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The estimated distribution of autochthonous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in Europe in 2005–2020

et al. 2023

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Background This study describes the spatial and temporal distribution between 2005 and 2020 of human and animal leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in European countries reporting autochthonous cases, and highlights potential activities to improve disease control. Methodology/Principal findings It was based on a review of the scientific literature and data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Ministries of Health, including hospital discharges in some countries. Autochthonous infections were reported in the scientific literature from 22 countries, including 13 and 21 countries reporting human and animal infections, respectively. In contrast, only 17 countries reported autochthonous human leishmaniasis cases to the WHO and 8 countries animal infections to the WOAH. The number of WOAH reported cases were 4,203, comprising 4,183 canine cases and 20 cases in wildlife. Of 8,367 WHO reported human cases, 69% were visceral leishmaniasis cases—of which 94% were autochthonous—and 31% cutaneous leishmaniasis cases—of which 53% were imported and mostly in France. The resulting cumulative incidence per 100,000 population of visceral leishmaniasis between 2005–2020, was highest in Albania (2.15 cases), followed by Montenegro, Malta, Greece, Spain and North Macedonia (0.53–0.42), Italy (0.16), Portugal (0.09) and lower in other endemic countries (0.07–0.002). However, according to hospital discharges, the estimated human leishmaniasis incidence was 0.70 in Italy and visceral leishmaniasis incidences were 0.67 in Spain and 0.41 in Portugal. Conclusions/Significance Overall, there was no evidence of widespread increased incidence of autochthonous human leishmaniasis by L. infantum in European countries. Visceral leishmaniasis incidence followed a decreasing trend in Albania, Italy and Portugal, and peaked in Greece in 2013, 2014 and 2017, and in Spain in 2006–2007 and 2011–2013. Animal and human cutaneous leishmaniasis remain highly underreported. In humans, hospital discharge databases provide the most accurate information on visceral leishmaniasis and may be a valuable indirect source of information to identify hotspots of animal leishmaniasis. Integrated leishmaniasis surveillance and reporting following the One Health approach, needs to be enhanced in order to improve disease control.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The estimated distribution of autochthonous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in Europe in 2005–2020

et al. 2023

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“…Human leishmaniasis, particularly CL, appears to be on the rise in Europe and the Mediterranean region in recent years [10,[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. In Austria, an increasing number of cases have been observed in recent years, although exact data are not available due to the lack of a mandatory notification system or a central register.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A possible explanation for the higher frequency of serological diagnostics could be a heightened awareness or sensitivity among physicians regarding the disease. This could presumably have been elicited by the higher numbers of leishmaniasis patients physicians had encountered in the antecedent years, particularly since 2015, but could also be due to the increasing numbers of publications assessing leishmaniasis incidences in European countries [10,[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. In addition, serological surveillance studies conducted in asymptomatic Austrian military personnel, who had been deployed in the Kosovo, Syria, Lebanon or Bosnia and Herzegovina, revealed an unexpectedly high seroprevalence of antibodies against Leishmania [30][31][32][33].…”

Section: Plos Neglected Tropical Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, about 100 countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, and the Mediterranean region are considered endemic for leishmaniasis [8,9]. In recent years, the global incidence of CL has steadily increased, whereas since 2012, the number of VL cases has decreased worldwide as a result of efforts in vector control and improvement of health care [8,10]. However, outbreaks of leishmaniasis still affect thousands of people inside and outside endemic countries, particularly in regions with armed conflicts [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The changing epidemiology of human leishmaniasis in the non-endemic country of Austria between 2000 to 2021, including a congenital case

Riebenbauer,

Czerny,

Egg

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Background Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with intracellular protozoans of the genus Leishmania. Transmission occurs predominantly by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies, other routes, including congenital transmission, are rare. The disease manifests as either cutaneous, visceral or mucosal/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. In recent years, changes in the epidemiological pattern have been reported from Europe. Principal findings A total of 311 new and 29 published leishmaniasis cases occurring between 01/01/2000 and 12/31/2021 in Austria were collected and analyzed. These encompassed 146 cutaneous (CL), 14 visceral (VL), 4 mucosal, and 3 cases with concurrent VL and CL. In addition, asymptomatic infections, comprising 11 unspecified cases with Leishmania DNA detectable only in the blood and 162 cases with anti-Leishmania antibodies were reported. Particularly since 2016, the incidence of leishmaniasis has steadily risen, mainly attributable to increasing numbers of CL and cases with positive serology against Leishmania species, whereas the incidence of VL has slowly decreased. Analysis revealed that a shift in the causative species spectrum had occurred and that a substantial number of CL cases were caused by members of the Leishmania donovani/infantum complex. Simultaneous occurrence of VL and CL was identified in immunocompromised individuals, but also in a not yet reported case of an immunocompetent child after vertical transmission. Conclusions The incidence of leishmaniasis has risen in the recent years. The numbers are anticipated to keep rising due to increasing human mobility, including travel and forced migration, growing reservoir host populations as well as expansion and dispersal of vector species caused by climate and habitat changes, urbanization and globalization. Hence, elevated awareness for the disease, including possible transmission in previously non-endemic regions and non-vector transmission modes, support of sandfly surveillance efforts and implementation and establishment of public health interventions in a One Health approach are pivotal in the global efforts to control and reduce leishmaniasis.

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“…Leishmaniasis is a group of infectious and parasitic diseases caused by protozoan of the genus Leishmania. They are transmitted through the blood meal of insect vectors of the genus Phlebotomus (in Europe, Asia, and Africa) and Lutzomyia (in the Americas) [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, leishmaniasis is endemic in 98 countries, affecting more than 12 million people and resulting in an estimated 1.5 to 2 million new cases annually.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Guanidines Potential against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: Exploring In Vitro Effectiveness, Toxicities and of Innate Immunity Response Effects

dos Anjos,

de Souza,

Machado

et al. 2023

Biomolecules

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Leishmaniasis is a complex group of infectious and parasitic diseases that afflict many thousands of individuals across five continents. Leishmaniasis treatment remains a challenge because it relies on drugsknown for their high toxicity and limited efficacy, making itimperative to identify new molecules that offer greater effectiveness and safety. This study sought to explore the impact of seven synthetic guanidine derivatives (LQOF-G1, LQOF-G2, LQOF-G6, LQOF-G7, LQOF-G32, LQOF-G35 and LQOF-G36) onthe parasite Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and in vitro macrophage infection by this parasite, as well as cytotoxic approaches in vitro models of mammalian host cells and tissues. The synthesized compounds showed purity ≥ 99.65% and effectively inhibited parasite growth. LQOF-G1 proved the most potent, yielding the best half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against promastigotes (4.62 μmol/L), axenic amastigotes (4.27 μmol/L), and intracellular amastigotes (3.65 μmol/L). Notably, the antileishmanial activity of LQOF-G1, LQOF-G2, and LQOF-G6 was related to immunomodulatory effects, evidenced by alterations in TNF-α, IL-12, IL-10, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the supernatant of culture macrophages infected with L. (V.) braziliensis and coincubated with these compounds. LQOF-G2 and LQOF-G36 compounds exhibited vasodilator and spasmolytic effects at higher concentrations (≥100 μmol/L). Generally, LQOF-G1, LQOF-G2, and LQOF-G32 compounds were found to be nontoxic to assessed organs and cells. No toxic effects were observed in human cell lines, such as HEK-293, CaCo-2 and A549, at concentrations ≥ 500 μmol/L. Collectively, data have shown unequivocal evidence of the effectiveness of these compounds against L. (V.) braziliensis parasite, one of the causative agents of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis in America.

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Non-Endemic Leishmaniases Reported Globally in Humans between 2000 and 2021—A Comprehensive Review

Cited by 12 publications

References 300 publications

The estimated distribution of autochthonous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in Europe in 2005–2020

The estimated distribution of autochthonous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in Europe in 2005–2020

The changing epidemiology of human leishmaniasis in the non-endemic country of Austria between 2000 to 2021, including a congenital case

Evidence of Guanidines Potential against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: Exploring In Vitro Effectiveness, Toxicities and of Innate Immunity Response Effects

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