ABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio entomológico con el fin de conocer las especies flebotominas presentes en dos focos endémicos de leishmaniasis visceral americana (LVA) del estado Lara, Venezuela. Las capturas de flebotominos se realizaron, de enero 1998 a marzo 2000, en dos áreas endémicas localizadas en el municipio Torres: La Rinconada (10° 15 N-69° 57 W) y San Esteban (10° 54 N-69° 55 W). Para ello se colocó la trampa de luz Shannon, entre las 19: 00 y 22: 00 h, y 4 trampas de luz CDC durante toda la noche en el peridomicilio y, además, se realizó la búsqueda activa manual en sus refugios naturales. En La Rinconada se capturaron 7.488 ejemplares, pertenecientes a ocho especies flebotominas, de los cuales 6.782 fueron hembras y 706, machos. Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis fue la especie predominante (94,59%). En San Esteban fueron capturados 1.032 ejemplares, de los cuales 842 fueron hembras y 190 machos. El 97,96% de los ejemplares fueron identificados como L. pseudolongipalpis. Ninguna de las hembras capturadas en las localidades endémicas estudiadas mostró la presencia de promastigotes de Leishmania spp. en su tracto digestivo. Debido al marcado predominio de L. pseudolongipalpis y la escasa presencia de L. evansi en estas áreas endémicas, L. pseudolongipalpis pudiera tener un rol importante en la transmisión de la leishmaniasis visceral en las localidades estudiadas.
An entomological study was undertaken to know the presence of phlebotomine species in two endemic foci of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) at Lara State, Venezuela. The captures of phlebotomine sand flies were carried out, from January 1998 to March 2000, in two endemic areas localized at the Torres municipality: La Rinconada (10° 15 N-69° 57 W) and San Esteban (10° 54 N-69° 55 W). For this purpose the Shannon light trap was used, between 19: 00 and 22: 00 h, and 4 CDC light traps left overnight at the peridomicily and, besides, active manual searches in its natural refuges was carried out. At La Rinconada, 7,488 specimens of eight phlebotomine species were caught out of which 6,782 were females and 706, males. Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis was the predominant species (94.59%). At San Esteban 1,032 specimens were captured of which 842 were females and 190 males. The 97.96% of the specimens were identified as L. pseudolongipalpis. None of the females captured at the endemic localities that were studied showed the presence of Leishmania spp. promastigotes in their digestive tract. Due to the predominance of L. pseudolongipalpis and the low presence of L. evansi at these endemic areas, L. pseudolongipalpis should be regarded as having an important role in the transmission of American visceral leishmaniasis in the localities that were studied.
ABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio clínico, parásitológico, epidemiológico y ecológico, y a la vez se adoptaron las medidas para combinar un brote epidémico urbano de leishmaniasís tegumentaria en la ciudad de Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, Venezuela. Las variedades clínicas encontradas en 30 casos fueron: clásica ulcerosa en 20 (66,7%), nodular en 7 (23,3%) y ulceronodular en 3 (10,0%). Las localizaciones más frecuentes de las lesiones fueron: la cara 13 casos (43,3%) y las extremidades superiores 10 casos (33, 3%). La enfermedad se presentó en ambos sexos y en todos los grupos de edad estudiados, pero fue más frecuente en los hombres que en las mujeres así como en los menores de 15 años. El agente causal es semejante a Leishmania mexicana venezuelensis, parásito sensible a la acción terapéutica de los antimoniales pentavalentes. El vector más probable es Lutzomyia olmeca bicolor
Subject(s)
Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Male , Female , History, 20th Century , Disease Outbreaks , Leishmaniasis/epidemiology , VenezuelaABSTRACT
Since 1974 significant numbers of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases have turned up in the area of Barquisimeto, Venezuela's third-largest city and the capital of Lara State. One case was found in 1974, three more in 1980, and 89 more during the course of surveys conducted in 1982-1984. All 93 of these patients received parasitologic examinations and 32 were given the Montenegro test. In addition, suspensions of tissues from their lesions were inoculated into hamsters, and the infecting were isolated by culturing sera obtained from the hamster's resulting lesions. The Montenegro test produced responses with diameters from 5 to 9 mm in 23 patients and from 10 to 13 mm in nine. Parasite strains isolated from 88 of the patients were morphologically and biologically similar to Leishmania mexicana venezuelensis, and parasite strains isolated from five patients were morphologically and biologically similar to L. braziliensis ssp. The authors suggest that Lutzomyia olmeca bicolor is the most likely vector of L. m. venezuelensis. All of the patients studied were given a course of treatment with antimonial medication and all recovered
