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First visceral leishmaniasis focus in Argentina
Od Salomon1, A Sinagra, Mc Nevot
1Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Endemo-Epidemias, CENDIE- ANLIS, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina. odanielsalomon@gmail.com
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
|March 28, 2008
Summary
A child in Argentina was diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in 2006. This marked the southernmost VL transmission focus, with Lutzomyia longipalpis and canine cases confirmed in Posadas.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Public Health
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious parasitic disease.
- Understanding the geographic distribution of VL is crucial for public health interventions.
Observation:
- A pediatric case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was identified in Posadas, Argentina, in 2006.
- The sandfly vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, was detected in the vicinity of the patient's residence.
- Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was also confirmed within the same locality.
Findings:
- This report details the first confirmed focus of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in Argentina.
- The identified transmission area represents the southernmost geographical record for VL globally.
- Co-occurrence of human VL, canine VL, and the vector Lutzomyia longipalpis indicates a potential established transmission cycle.
Implications:
- The findings necessitate urgent public health strategies for VL prevention and control in Argentina.
- This discovery highlights the need for enhanced surveillance of leishmaniasis in previously non-endemic regions.
- Further research is warranted to delineate the full extent of the leishmaniasis vector's range and transmission dynamics in this region.
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