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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Dorsal Skin of Hamsters: a Useful Model for the Screening of Antileishmanial Drugs
Published on: April 21, 2012
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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Mucosal Involvement
Mehmet Çabalak1, Gülnaz Çulha2, Tayibe Bal1
1Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Hatay, Türkiye
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi
|August 4, 2021
Summary
This study details two Syrian immigrants in Turkey diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting the face and mucous membranes. Diagnosis involved microscopy and culture, identifying Leishmania tropica, with treatment including amphotericin B.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Leishmaniasis is a sand fly-borne protozoan disease.
- Turkey hosts over 3 million Syrian refugees, increasing disease transmission risk.
- Cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis present significant health challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report and characterize cases of leishmaniasis in Syrian refugees in Turkey.
- To identify the causative Leishmania species.
- To describe clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation of facial lesions in two patients.
- Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained smears from lesions.
- Inoculation of lesion aspirates into culture media.
- Molecular identification using PCR-RFLP to detect Leishmania tropica.
Main Results:
- Amastigotes detected in smears confirmed leishmaniasis.
- Leishmania tropica identified as the causative agent via PCR-RFLP.
- Both patients treated with amphotericin B; one experienced recurrence and received pentavalent antimony.
Conclusions:
- Leishmaniasis, specifically Leishmania tropica, is a concern in the Syrian refugee population in Turkey.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for managing leishmaniasis.
- Ongoing surveillance is necessary due to potential disease spread in vulnerable populations.
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