Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) associated with changing patterns in the transmission of the human cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana

Between March 2000 and December 2001 a survey of the sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) of French Guiana was carried out during 14 nights of captures with CDC light-traps and Malaise traps, and resulted in the collection of 2245 individuals of 38 species. The most abundant species were Lutzomyia (Trichophoromyia) ininii Floch & Abonnenc, Lu.(Psychodopygus) squamiventris maripaensis Floch & Abonnenc, and Lu .(Nyssomyia) flaviscutellata Mangabeira. Half of the collected sand flies females were dissected under field conditions and five species were found harboring Leishmania-like parasites. The Leishmania (Kinetoplastidae: Trypanosomatidae) species were identified by molecular typing, and for the first time Lu. (Nys.) flaviscutellata was found harboring Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis and Lu. (Tri) ininii harboring unknown Leishmania. The first record for French Guiana of Lu. (Psy.) squamiventris maripaensis harboring L. (V.) naiffi, was also reported. The patterns of diversification of the human cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in French Guiana are discussed.

Field monitoring of Cypermethrin residual effect on the mortality rates of the phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

In a visceral leishmaniasis endemic locality of northeast of Brazil where all settlements were treated with cypermethrin, a follow-up of Lutzomyia longipalpis populations was carried out by regular collections. The residual effect of the inseticide was studied using biological assays on three different types of walls. The results showed that the inseticides had an effect on intradomiciliar Lu. longipalpis populations limited to two months, and had no significant effect on peridomiciliar vector populations. The mortality rates of the tested sandflies were variable according to the type of wall. The decreasing of the inseticide effect was marked since the 3rd month, and mortality rates were identical whatever the type of wall since the 4th month. Unsufficient residual effect was detected after the 4th month.

Leishmaniasis infantil / Leishmaniasis in the pediatric population

En el periodo comprendido entre septiembre de 1988 y septiembre de 1997, se registraron 164 casos de leishmaniasis en niños menores de 15 años atendidos en el Servicio de Dematologia del Hospital de Clinicas. El sexo masculino fue ligeramente el mas afectado, predominaron las lesiones cutaneas, ulcerosas, unicas y de localizacion cefalica. Se destacan algunos aspectos clinicos poco habituales y la respuesta terapeutica al tratamiento con pentamidina y anfotericina B. El incremento de Leishmaniasis infantil en nuestro medio obliga a tomar medidas de proteccion en area endemicas y a una educacion a la comunidad sobre los riesgos de esta ectoparasitosis, transmitida por la picadura de insectos vectores.

A randomized trial of amphotericin B alone or in combination with itraconazole in the treatment of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

A randomized trial of amphotericin B (AB) alone and in combination with oral itraconazole (IZ) is carried out in two groups of 10 mucocutaneous leishmaniasis patients from Bolivia and Peru. AB+IZ combination is no better than AB monotherapy, as far as efficacy and tolerability are concerned. No antagonism was detected.

Parasitological diagnosis of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania b. braziliensis in Bolivia

Diagnóstico parasitológico, usando esfregaço, cultura e exame anatomopatológico de biópsia, foi estudado em 146 pacientes infectados com leishmaniose mucocutânea, na Bolívia e Peru. A mais eficiente técnica de detectar parasitas parece ser o exame de esfregaço para lesöes cutâneas (33 por cento de positividade) e anatompatológico para lesöes de mucosas (28 por cento de positividade). Em ambas lesöes, cutâneas e mucosa, parasitas foram mais frequentemente encontrados em velhas lesöes

Encuesta de morbilidad en dos poblaciones de una zona tropical en Bolivia / Inquiry of morbility in two town of a tropical zone in Bolivia

En el curso de actividades del programa de leishmaniasis, entre julio y diciembre de 1990, se efectuo una evaluacion del estado de salud de dos poblaciones, que habitan la zona tropical de los departamentos de La Paz y del Beni, la primera de Aymaras y Quechuas migrantes del altiplano y la segunda autoctona de Chimanes. Se realizaron 459 consultas medicas a los colonizadores y 243 a los chimanes. En base a los diagnosticos clinicos, se elaboro un perfil de enfermedades, siendo las mas importantes las infecciones y las carencias, donde la poblacion infantil es la mas vulnerable. Ambos grupos, colonizadores y Chimanes, presentan un similar patron de enfermedades predominantes. La identificacion de causas de morbilidad, permite sugerir tipos de medicamentos basicos, los que, con una educacion en salud, constituirian un aporte para brindar mejor cobertura en salud a grupos poblacionales migrantes rurales

Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in blood banks of seven departments of Bolivia

Trypanosoma cruzi infection was studied in 1,298 sera samples of blood banks from 7 capital departments of Bolivia, using the immunofluorescence test (IFI) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa). The percentages of positivity in these 7 departments have an average of 28% and are distributed as follows: Sta. Cruz 51%, Tarija 45%, Cochabamba 28%, Sucre 39%, La Paz 4.9%, Oruro 6% and Potosi 24%. The prevalence is related with the altitude levels of the different departments. However in Potosi (3,945 m) we found a 24% of prevalence, probably due to the proximity of endemic valleys to the city. The authors suggest a strict control in blood donors since there exists a great risk of infection