Eco-epidemiology of Leishmaniasis cutaneous nonulcerated in Honduras

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by the Leishmania protozoon. In Honduras, it's an important cause of morbidity. This study's objective was to characterize the Eco-epidemiology of Non Ulcerated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (NUCL) in Honduras. Four NUCL endemic counties were selected (Amapala, San Francisco de Coray, Reitoca y Alubaren).

In order to capture the Lutzomyia, CDC traps were used according the Young & Duncan criteria for the taxonomic identification. The patients were found in conjunction with the Honduran Ministry of Health to execute the molecular characterization of the Leishmania species using PCR. Also, through the ITS amplification, we determined that those female sandflies, fed mainly from domestic animals and human blood. 156 samples from clinical suspicion for NUCL from which 130 (83.33 %) were positive for Leishmania spp, and Leishmania chagas/infantumi was the only characterized specie.

Using the Young & Duncan criteria, 5,951 sandflies were identified, 3,543 (60 %) male and 2,404 (40 %) females. Among the captured insects, 10 sandflies species were identified and the most predominant were Lu. longipalpis, Lu. evansi and Lu. cruciata. The four counties presented low sandflies specie diversity (D_Mg =1.04). 450 engorged by these species were analyzed: Lu. longipalpis, Lu. cruciata, Lu. evansi, Lu. chiapanensis and Lu. sanguinaria. The main food sources found were: Gallus gallus, Sus scrofa and Canis familiaris. The infection rate found was of 0.27%, Lu. longipalpis infected with Leishmania infantum/chagasi. With this study, the ecoepidemiology of NUCL was characterized, confirming the L. chagasi/infantum as the main etiologic agent, Lu. longipalpis as its main vector, and Canis familiaris as the insects' main food source. Keywords: Lutzomyia longipalpis.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/rct.v0i14.1799

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología No. 14, junio 2014: 115-128