Molecular epidemiology of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in Panama.

Full Abstract

American tegumentary leishmaniasis is an increasing public health problem in Panama. This study describes the clinical characteristics and the molecular epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Panama over a 5-year period (2004-2008). Additionally, we applied a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based assay to identify Leishmania species in clinical isolates, skin scrapings, and sandflies specimens. Whereas 60.3% of cases were detected with conventional parasitologic techniques (smear or in vitro culture), the PCR detected 72% positive patients. Our clinical-epidemiologic data corroborate the high incidence of L. (Viannia) panamensis and provide evidence of peridomestic and/or domestic transmission. Mucosal involvement was observed in 4.2% of the patients. The overall natural infection rate with Leishmania in 103 pools of sandflies was 0.46%. Lutzomyia gomezi and Lutzomya panamensis were the prevalent species incriminated as vectors at the capture sites in central Panama. This study contributes to a better knowledge of the current epidemiology of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Panama.

Author information

Author/s: Miranda, Aracelis (A); Carrasco, Ricardo (R); Paz, Hector (H); Pascale, Juan M (JM); Samudio, Franklyn (F); Saldaña, Azael (A); Santamaría, Giovanna (G); Mendoza, Yaxelis (Y); Calzada, Jose E (JE);

Affiliation: Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 81 (issue 4) : pp 565-71

Dates: Created 2009/10/09; Completed 2009/10/27;

PMID: 19815867, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/27/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.