Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Becomes Endemic in Southern United States
Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene reveals that cutaneous leishmaniasis, a disease transmitted by sand flies, has become endemic in the southern region of the United States. The findings, presented by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlight a growing concern for public health in the affected areas.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, characterized by the formation of skin ulcers after being bitten by sand flies, has traditionally been associated with international travel to countries where the disease is prevalent. However, the CDC researchers have now diagnosed 86 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis within the United States over the past decade, without any history of international travel.
Using advanced genetic sequencing tools, the researchers were able to analyze tissue samples from infected patients and identify a unique version of the disease transmitted by local insect populations. This marks the first time a large cluster of locally-transmitted skin infections has been genetically identified in the United States.
“The presence of a clear genetic fingerprint indicates that cutaneous leishmaniasis is now endemic in certain parts of the United States,” explains Mary Cambe, a researcher at the CDC’s National Center for Emerging Zoological Infections. “While most of these infections have been reported in Texas, sand flies capable of transmitting leishmaniasis are found throughout the southern United States,” she adds.
The risk of sand fly bites is highest during dusk and nighttime when these insects are actively feeding. Cutaneous leishmaniasis can lead to various symptoms, including the formation of skin ulcers that may change in size and shape over time. Although most ulcers eventually heal, even without treatment, they can persist for months or years, leaving behind scarring.
It is worth noting that there are two types of leishmaniasis: cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani, and visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum, which affects internal organs. Scientists express concern about the potential spread of visceral leishmaniasis in the United States, as this form of the disease presents more fatal symptoms and has a mortality rate of 7%, causing thousands of deaths worldwide annually.
The main host for visceral Leishmania is dogs. As Professor Christine Peterson from the University of Iowa explains, “More than 1 million dogs are imported into the United States each year, many of which come from regions where visceral leishmaniasis is prevalent.” When sand flies indigenous to the United States feed on these dogs and become infected with Leishmania infantum, they can then transmit the infection to humans. Professor Peterson stresses the importance of implementing quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of this lethal tropical parasite into the United States.
In Korea, a case of cutaneous leishmaniasis was recently reported in an individual who had traveled to Central and South America. However, the presence of sand flies is not native to Korea, and the disease is limited to individuals who have traveled abroad.
The emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis as an endemic disease within the United States calls for heightened surveillance, preventive measures, and public awareness. Efforts should be made to protect individuals from sand fly bites and to control the spread of this infectious disease in the affected regions.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by sand flies is becoming endemic in the southern United States
Entered 2023.10.23 07:15 Views 0 Entered 2023.10.23 07:15 Modified 2023.10.22 22:38 Views 0
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Research results have shown that an infectious disease that did not exist in the United States has become endemic in the southern region of the United States. Based on the presentation by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the annual meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) held in Chicago from the 18th to the 22nd (local time), the health medicine portal ‘ WebMD ‘ was published on the 20th. This is what was reported.
The disease in question is cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin ulcers when bitten by sand flies, which bite people and suck blood like mosquitoes. CDC researchers reported that they had diagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis in 86 people in the United States over the past 10 years who had no history of international travel.
The researchers used genetic sequencing tools to analyze tissue samples from infected patients. The results showed that people who had not traveled abroad suffered from a unique version of the disease, which was transmitted by local insect populations.
“Previously, we only had signs of local spread based on a small number of case reports, but now, for the first time, we have a clear genetic fingerprint of a relatively large cluster, showing that skin infections have been reported in some parts of the United States,” said Mary Cambe, a researcher at the CDC’s National Center for Emerging Zoological Infections. “We have come to the conclusion that leukemia has become endemic,” she said “Most of these infections have occurred in people living in Texas, but sand flies that can transmit leishmaniasis are found throughout the southern United States,” he said.
The risk of being bitten by sandflies is highest at dusk and at night when flies are feeding. According to the CDC, cutaneous leishmaniasis can cause a variety of symptoms. Skin ulcers that form after infection can change shape and size over time. It can be an open ulcer with raised borders and a central crater, or an ulcer covered with crusts or scales. Even without treatment, most ulcers will eventually heal, even if they persist for months or years. This can lead to scarring.
There are two types of leishmaniasis. Infection with Leishmania donovani causes cutaneous leishmaniasis, and infection with Leishmania infantum causes visceral leishmaniasis, which attacks internal organs.
Scientists worry that visceral leishmaniasis, a disease with more fatal symptoms, could gain a foothold in the United States. According to a press release from the American Public Health Association, visceral leishmaniasis has a mortality rate of 7%, causing 20,000 to 30,000 deaths each year worldwide.
The main host for visceral Leishmania is dogs. Professor Christine Peterson, veterinarian and director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa, said, “More than 1 million dogs are imported into the United States each year, and many of which are imported from areas where visceral leishmania lives. .” When sandflies native to the United States suck the blood of these dogs and become infected with leishmania Infantum, they can also spread it to humans. Professor Peterson said, “Leishmania infantum is one of the most lethal tropical parasites in the world, so quarantine measures are needed to prevent its introduction into the United States.”
In Korea, a patient with cutaneous leishmaniasis was discovered in July this year for the first time in two years. The person returned home infected after traveling to Central and South America, including Mexico and the Galapagos Islands. In Korea, leishmaniasis has been designated a class 4 statutory infectious disease like influenza and norovirus infection, but fortunately, sand flies do not grow naturally, so it only occurs among people who have traveled abroad.
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