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Leishmania infantum and Human Visceral Leishmaniasis, Argentina

2012; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Volume: 18; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3201/eid1802.110924

1080-6059

Alejandra Barrio, Cecilia Parodi, Fabricio M. Locatelli, María C. Mora, Miguel Á. Basombrío, Masataka Korenaga, Yoshihisa Hashiguchi, María Fernanda García Bustos, Alberto Gentile, Jorge D. Marco,

Trypanosoma species research and implications

Leishmania infantum and Human Visceral Leishmaniasis, ArgentinaTo the Editor: In Argentina, 14 autochthonous human cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were reported during 1925-1989.These cases occurred in different localities in Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, and Chaco Provinces of northwestern Argentina (online Appendix Figure, wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/article/18/2/11-0924-FA1.htm),where cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused principally by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is endemic.It had been postulated that scattered/sporadic VL cases could be caused by visceralization of dermatrophic Leishmania spp.because of 1) absence of already recognized L. (Leishmania) infantum vector species; 2) geographic overlap with the region where CL is endemic; 3) simultaneous symptoms of CL; or 4) lack of detailed parasitic characterization at the molecular level for cases of suspected VL (1).However, during recent decades, urban outbreaks of VL have spread to southern regions of South America (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and Asunción, Paraguay) near the northern border with Argentina.In May 2006, an autochthonous human case of VL was reported in Posadas (northeastern Argentina); it was associated with the canine visceral form of the disease.In addition, the presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis sandfl ies was also reported (2).Currently, 58 human VL cases have been reported in Posadas (3), and >7,000 infected dogs, Lu. longipalpis sandfl ies, and canine VL have been found 350 km south of Posadas (4).During