1
|
Maia C, Conceição C, Pereira A, Rocha R, Ortuño M, Muñoz C, Jumakanova Z, Pérez-Cutillas P, Özbel Y, Töz S, Baneth G, Monge-Maillo B, Gasimov E, Van der Stede Y, Torres G, Gossner CM, Berriatua E. The estimated distribution of autochthonous leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum in Europe in 2005-2020. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011497. [PMID: 37467280 PMCID: PMC10389729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla Maia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Conceição
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Pereira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rafael Rocha
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Ortuño
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Clara Muñoz
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- SaBio, Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Zarima Jumakanova
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Yusuf Özbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Töz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gad Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Begoña Monge-Maillo
- Unidad de Referencia Nacional para Enfermedades Tropicales, Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elkhan Gasimov
- Division of Country Health Programmes, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yves Van der Stede
- Biological Hazards, Animal Health and Welfare (BIOHAW) Unit, European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy
| | - Gregorio Torres
- Science Department, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Paris, France
| | - Céline M. Gossner
- Disease Programme Unit, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eduardo Berriatua
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Król G, Fortunka K, Majchrzak M, Piktel E, Paprocka P, Mańkowska A, Lesiak A, Karasiński M, Strzelecka A, Durnaś B, Bucki R. Metallic Nanoparticles and Core-Shell Nanosystems in the Treatment, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Parasitic Diseases. Pathogens 2023; 12:838. [PMID: 37375528 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The usage of nanotechnology in the fight against parasitic diseases is in the early stages of development, but it brings hopes that this new field will provide a solution to target the early stages of parasitosis, compensate for the lack of vaccines for most parasitic diseases, and also provide new treatment options for diseases in which parasites show increased resistance to current drugs. The huge physicochemical diversity of nanomaterials developed so far, mainly for antibacterial and anti-cancer therapies, requires additional studies to determine their antiparasitic potential. When designing metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) and specific nanosystems, such as complexes of MeNPs, with the shell of attached drugs, several physicochemical properties need to be considered. The most important are: size, shape, surface charge, type of surfactants that control their dispersion, and shell molecules that should assure specific molecular interaction with targeted molecules of parasites' cells. Therefore, it can be expected that the development of antiparasitic drugs using strategies provided by nanotechnology and the use of nanomaterials for diagnostic purposes will soon provide new and effective methods of antiparasitic therapy and effective diagnostic tools that will improve the prevention and reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Król
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Kamila Fortunka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Michał Majchrzak
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Ewelina Piktel
- Independent Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Medical University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 2B, 15-222 Białystok, Poland
| | - Paulina Paprocka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Angelika Mańkowska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Agata Lesiak
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Maciej Karasiński
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Białystok, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Strzelecka
- Department of Public Health , Institute of Health Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Bonita Durnaś
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
| | - Robert Bucki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Białystok, Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Białystok, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kim HJ, Kim EJ, Choi JW, Kim YC, Lee HI, Shin HI. A Rare Case of Imported Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania infantum in the Republic of Korea, 2021. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8040223. [PMID: 37104348 PMCID: PMC10142730 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and an infectious disease transmitted by sandflies that occurs worldwide. In the absence of physicians seeking to identify the causes of disease in non-endemic areas, appropriate diagnoses cannot be made, thereby hampering effective treatment. In this report, we examined a nodular lesion on a patient's chin by performing a biopsy and molecular analysis. The biopsy finding led to the identification of a Leishmania amastigote. On the basis of PCR analysis of the internal transcribed spacer 1 gene and 5.8 S ribosomal RNA with a subsequent BLAST search, we identified the causal organism as Leishmania infantum. The patient, who had visited Spain from 1 July to 31 August 2018, was accordingly diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis and was administered liposomal amphotericin B, which successfully treated the skin lesion. Travel history plays an important role in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, and physicians should bear in mind that travelers can also introduce diseases and pathogens to non-endemic areas. Identification of Leishmania at the species level will increase the efficacy of treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jung Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science and Infectious Biology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jin Kim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Woong Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - You Chan Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Il Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Il Shin
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tagliazucchi L, Perea-Martinez A, Fiorini G, Manzano JI, Genovese F, García-Hernández R, Pinetti D, Gamarro F, Costi MP. Label-Free Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Reveals Different Pathways Modulated in THP-1 Cells Infected with Therapeutic Failure and Drug Resistance Leishmania infantum Clinical Isolates. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:470-485. [PMID: 36762976 PMCID: PMC10012269 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
As the world is facing increasing difficulties to treat leishmaniasis with current therapies, deeper investigation into the molecular mechanisms responsible for both drug resistance and treatment failure (TF) is essential in drug discovery and development. So far, few available drugs cause severe side effects and have developed several resistance mechanisms. Drug resistance and TF parasite strains from clinical isolates may have acquired altered expression of proteins that characterize specific mechanisms leading to therapy inefficacy. This work aims to identify the biochemical pathways of THP-1 human monocytes infected by different Leishmania infantum clinical isolates from patients with either resistance or with TF outcome, using whole cell differential Mass Spectrometry proteomics. We have adopted network enrichment analysis to integrate the transcriptomics and the proteomic results of infected cells studies. Transferrin receptor C (TFRC) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase 3 (NDK3) were discovered as overexpressed proteins in THP-1 cells infected with paromomycin, antimony, and miltefosine resistant L. infantum lines. The overall achievements represent founding concepts to confirm new targets involved in the parasitic drug resistance and TF mechanisms, and to consider in perspective the importance of a dual host-guest pharmacological approach to treat the acute stage of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM) Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ana Perea-Martinez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Greta Fiorini
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - José Ignacio Manzano
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Filippo Genovese
- Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (CIGS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Pinetti
- Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (CIGS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Paola Costi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Al-Jawabreh A, Ereqat S, Dumaidi K, Nasereddin A, Sawalha S, Al-Jawabreh H, Al-Jawabreh A. Case Report: Autochthonous Case of Human Visceral Leishmaniasis in the West Bank, Palestine. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:1490-1492. [PMID: 32720633 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is a parasitic disease infecting children in the Mediterranean region. Here, we portray a case of a 2-year-old child with an epidemiological description of the situation surrounding the case. The patient was suffering from recurrent fever, weakness, and abdominal discomfort associated with loss of appetite. Routine blood investigations showed pancytopenia, whereas examination revealed hepatomegaly. A diagnosis of HVL was made by demonstrating amastigotes in a Giemsa-stained smear from a bone marrow aspirate followed by genotyping by PCR and sequencing. In conclusion, early detection of VL infection followed by appropriate treatment protocols is essential to saving the patient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Al-Jawabreh
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.,Leishmaniases Research Unit, Jericho, Palestine
| | - Suheir Ereqat
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | - Abdelmajeed Nasereddin
- Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University Abu Deis, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | | | - Amer Al-Jawabreh
- Arab American University, Jenin, Palestine.,Leishmaniases Research Unit, Jericho, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gianchecchi E, Montomoli E. The enemy at home: leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin, Italy on the focus. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:563-577. [DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1751611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi S.r.l, Siena, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Böer-Auer A, Fölster-Holst R. [Skin biopsy of inflammatory skin diseases in childhood-when is it reasonable?]. Hautarzt 2018; 69:536-549. [PMID: 29869129 DOI: 10.1007/s00105-018-4205-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Compared with adulthood, inflammatory skin diseases are relatively rarely biopsied in children. Apart from the invasiveness of the procedure, the required local anesthesia, and the risks of infection and scarring, the psychological trauma of the operation has a higher impact in childhood. If a biopsy is performed, expectations towards the dermatopathology report are high. However, the evaluation of biopsies taken from children is challenging for the dermatopathologist: on the one hand, because the biopsies are often tiny or just superficial shaves and, on the other hand, because criteria for evaluation have mostly been developed from findings in adult biopsy specimens. In children, the immune system is still in the process of maturation and, therefore, infiltrates in the skin may look different from those seen in adults; however, knowledge about that is very limited to date. Moreover, numerous rare genodermatoses may manifest themselves first in childhood and need to be considered in the differential diagnosis while experience with them is often limited. Starting from the clinical presentation, this article presents histopathological features of possible differential diagnoses in order to demonstrate the value or necessity of a skin biopsy in a pediatric patient. In addition, communication with parents and child, methods of local anesthesia and biopsy techniques will be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Böer-Auer
- Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, 48149, Münster, Deutschland. .,Dermatologikum Hamburg, Stephansplatz 5, 20354, Hamburg, Deutschland.
| | - R Fölster-Holst
- Campus Kiel, Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Rosalind-Franklin-Str. 7, 24105, Kiel, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Paniz-Mondolfi AE, Talhari C, García Bustos MF, Rosales T, Villamil-Gomez WE, Marquez M, Pérez Alvarez AM, Tálamo Sánchez AI, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. American cutaneous leishmaniasis in infancy and childhood. Int J Dermatol 2017; 56:1328-1341. [PMID: 28741648 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Infant and young child skin diseases are among the most common features of morbidity throughout the tropics. Because the skin is directly exposed to the environment, it is considerably affected by climatic and local conditions such as vectors and microorganisms, as in the case of leishmaniasis. In America the observed magnitude of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children has led to the study of increased risk of exposure of this group due to the possibility of peri- and intradomiciliary transmission. The present review pretends to make a concrete approach all through the broad and main figures of this parasitic disease, including the clinical, physiopathological, epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects, in order to be used as a practical source of reference for pediatricians leading with tropical cutaneous pathology in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto E Paniz-Mondolfi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine/Infectious Diseases Pathology Laboratory, Hospital Internacional, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.,Laboratory of Biochemistry, Instituto de Biomedicina/IVSS, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Carolina Talhari
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil
| | - María F García Bustos
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | | | - Wilmer E Villamil-Gomez
- Infectious Diseases and Infection Control Reserch Group, Hospital Universitario de Sincelejo, Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia
| | - Marilianna Marquez
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine/Infectious Diseases Pathology Laboratory, Hospital Internacional, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.,Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Alexandra M Pérez Alvarez
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine/Infectious Diseases Pathology Laboratory, Hospital Internacional, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Alejandra I Tálamo Sánchez
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine/Infectious Diseases Pathology Laboratory, Hospital Internacional, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.,Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto, Venezuela
| | - Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales
- Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Crowe A, Slavin J, Stark D, Aboltins C. A case of imported Leishmania infantum cutaneous leishmaniasis; an unusual presentation occurring 19 years after travel. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:597. [PMID: 25428722 PMCID: PMC4262283 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-014-0597-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmania infantum is a flagellated protozoan parasite that is able to parasitize blood and tissue. Leishmania species cause a spectrum of clinical disease with cutaneous, visceral or mucosal involvement. L. infantum is recognised as a cause of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and is less commonly reported as a cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) from countries around the Mediterranean basin. This is the first report of imported L. infantum CL to Australia and is remarkable for a 19 year period between the patient's exposure to an endemic region, and the manifestation of symptoms. Case presentation A 76 year old Italian-born man presented to our institution with a non-healing lesion over his upper lip, abutting his nasal mucosa. The patient had travelled to Italy, an endemic area for L. infantum 19 years earlier but had resided in Australia, a non-endemic area since. Histopathology performed on a biopsy of the lesion demonstrated findings consistent with CL. A species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on the tissue detected L. infantum. The patient had complete clinical recovery following treatment with Liposomal amphotericin B at a dose of 3 mg/kg for five days followed by a subsequent 3 mg/kg dose at day ten. Conclusions L. infantum should be recognised as a cause of imported CL in returned travellers from the Mediterranean. In this case, the incubation period for L. infantum CL was at least 19 years. This case adds to the described spectrum of clinical presentations of leishmaniasis and supports the theory of parasite persistence underlying natural immunity and recurrence of disease. Clinicians should consider L. infantum CL in the differential diagnosis of a non-healing skin lesion in any patient who reports travel to the Mediterranean, even when travel occurred several years before clinical presentation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0597-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Crowe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - John Slavin
- Department of Pathology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Damien Stark
- Department of Microbiology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Craig Aboltins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Northwest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Epping, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Alkan C, Bichaud L, de Lamballerie X, Alten B, Gould EA, Charrel RN. Sandfly-borne phleboviruses of Eurasia and Africa: Epidemiology, genetic diversity, geographic range, control measures. Antiviral Res 2013; 100:54-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
11
|
Belal US, Abdel-Hafeez EH, Naoi K, Norose K. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Nalut District, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: a clinico-epidemiologic study and Leishmania species identification. J Parasitol 2012; 98:1251-6. [PMID: 22551502 DOI: 10.1645/ge-3086.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), an endemic disease in the littoral zones of the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, East Africa, and especially in Libya, has not been fully documented. The present study clarifies the clinico-epidemiologic profile of CL and the molecular genotyping of the Leishmania spp. in the Nalut district, Libya. Two hundred and twenty-three CL patients were examined at the out-patient clinics of Nalut Hospital from March 2006 to February 2007. CL was diagnosed by clinical, microscopic, culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. The disease was observed year-round, with the highest prevalence between November and February. Fifty-nine percent of patients were younger than 20 yr. Nodulo-ulcerative lesions, indurated ulcers, papulo-ulcerative lesions, and subcutaneous nodular lesions were observed in 170, 25, 15, and 13 patients, respectively. Two hundred patients (89.7%) had dry type of lesions, whereas 23 patients (10.3%) presented a wet type of lesion. One hundred and fifty-nine (71.3%) of 223 patients were confirmed positive for CL by the presence of the amastigote form of Leishmania by stained Giemsa smear, and 170 (76.2%) were positive according to the presence of the promastigote form of Leishmania by culture in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). PCR confirmed 203 (91.0%) positive cases. Genotyping of Leishmania spp. by RFLP analysis revealed that L. tropica was the most common species at all ages, and L . infantum was second under 20 yr of age. In summary, CL is endemic in the Nalut district, Libya; PCR was the most sensitive parasite diagnostic test, and L. tropica was the most common species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Usama S Belal
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Jabal al Gharbi University, Nalut City, Libya
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|