Sand fly population dynamics and cutaneous leishmaniasis among soldiers in an Atlantic forest remnant in northeastern Brazil.

Outbreaks of cutaneous leishmaniasis are relatively common among soldiers involved in nocturnal activities in tropical forests. We investigated the population dynamics of sand flies in a military training camp located in a remnant of Atlantic rainforest in northeastern Brazil, where outbreaks of cutaneous leishmaniasis have sporadically been described. From July 2012 to July 2014, light traps were monthly placed in 10 collection sites, being nine sites located near the forest edge and one near a sheep and goat stable.

Use of Recombinant Antigens for Sensitive Serodiagnosis of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis Caused by Different Leishmania Species.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) (also known as cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL]) is caused by various species of protozoa of the genus Leishmania The diagnosis is achieved on a clinical, epidemiological, and pathological basis, supported by positive parasitological exams and demonstration of leishmanin delayed-type hypersensitivity. Serological assays are not routinely used in the diagnosis because many are considered to have low sensitivity and the particular Leishmania species causing the disease can lead to variable performance. In the present study, we generated recombinant versions of two highly conserved Leishmania proteins, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis-derived Lb8E and Lb6H, and evaluated both in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Combination of In Silico Methods in the Search for Potential CD4(+) and CD8(+) T Cell Epitopes in the Proteome of Leishmania braziliensis.

The leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases widespread throughout the globe, which are caused by protozoans from the genus Leishmania and are transmitted by infected phlebotomine flies. The development of a safe and effective vaccine against these diseases has been seen as the best alternative to control and reduce the number of cases. To support vaccine development, this work has applied an in silico approach to search for high potential peptide epitopes able to bind to different major histocompatibility complex Class I and Class II (MHC I and MHC II) molecules from different human populations.

Real-time PCR for Leishmania species identification: Evaluation and comparison with classical techniques.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by various Leishmania species. Several studies have shown that real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used for Leishmania spp. identification by analyzing the melting temperature (Tm).

American tegumentary leishmaniasis: mRNA expression for Th1 and Treg mediators are predominant in patients with recent active disease.

Besides the Th1×Th2 paradigm, Treg and Th17 cytokines may play a role in the response to American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Considering the sensitivity and accuracy of qPCR and the lack of studies using this approach, we evaluated mRNA expression for IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22, TGF-β, Foxp3 and RORC in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with active disease, after stimulation with L. (V.

Infectiousness of Sylvatic and Synanthropic Small Rodents Implicates a Multi-host Reservoir of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

Background: The possibility that a multi-host wildlife reservoir is responsible for maintaining transmission of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis causing human cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is tested by comparative analysis of infection progression and infectiousness to sandflies in rodent host species previously shown to have high natural infection prevalences in both sylvatic or/and peridomestic habitats in close proximity to humans in northeast Brazil.

Methods: The clinical and parasitological outcomes, and infectiousness to sandflies, were observed in 54 colonized animals of three species (18 Necromys lasiurus, 18 Nectomys squamipes and 18 Rattus rattus) experimentally infected with high (5.5 × 10(6)/ml) or low (2.

Post-kala-azar dermal Leishmaniasis in two different clinical contexts.

In Brazil, visceral Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania chagasi. The development of cutaneous lesions in visceral leishmaniasis patients has been described in two different clinical contexts. Patients with compromised immunity can develop skin lesions as a direct consequence of a current visceral disease.

IL2RA genetic variants reduce IL-2-dependent responses and aggravate human cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The outcome of Leishmania infections varies substantially, depending on the host and the parasite strain; infection may be asymptomatic or cause mild or severe skin ulcers (cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL]), limited or disseminated lesions, or lethal visceral disease. We previously reported an association between IL-2R mutations and susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis in children infected with Leishmania donovani. In the present study, we evaluated the possible role of IL-2 signaling in human CL.

The compositional landscape of minicircle sequences isolated from active lesions and scars of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is characterized by cutaneous lesions that heal spontaneously or after specific treatment. This paper reports on the analysis of kDNA minicircle sequences from clinical samples (typical lesions and scars) that were PCR-amplified with specific primers for Leishmania species of the subgenus Viannia.

Methods: From 56 clinical isolates we obtained a single amplified fragment (ca.

Small mammals as hosts of Leishmania spp. in a highly endemic area for zoonotic leishmaniasis in North-Eastern Brazil.

Background: Leishmania parasites cause leishmaniasis in humans and animals worldwide. These parasites are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, which become infected upon feeding on an infected mammalian host. We assessed the occurrence of Leishmania infection in small mammals in an area of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis endemicity.

Cytokines and NO in American tegumentary leishmaniasis patients: profiles in active disease, after therapy and in self-healed individuals.

Studies suggest the influence of immune response on the successful treatment of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL), and indicate the existence of protective immunity in self-healed patients. Thus, the aim of this work was to quantify interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-) 10, IL-17, IL-22 and nitric oxide (NO) in culture supernatants of PBMC from patients with active disease (AD), after treatment (AT), and from self-healed (SH) and healthy subjects (CT), in response to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis insoluble antigen (AgIns). All groups of patients produced IFN-γ, indicating a predominant proinflammatory profile.

Quantitative real time PCR assays for the detection of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in animals and humans.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is a neglected disease of humans in the New World that may also cause irreversible skin and eventually mucocutaneous lesions. This parasite can also infect dogs and represents a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians. Methods currently available for the diagnosis of ACL have a low sensitivity and may be time-consuming, representing a limit for treatment expedition of ACL.

Comparison of flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence assay in the diagnosis and cure criterion after therapy of American tegumentary leishmaniasis by anti-live Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis immunoglobulin G.

The aim of this study was to compare the techniques of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and flow cytometry to clinical and laboratorial evaluation of patients before and after clinical cure and to evaluate the applicability of flow cytometry in post-therapeutic monitoring of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). Sera from 14 patients before treatment (BT), 13 patients 1 year after treatment (AT), 10 patients 2 and 5 years AT were evaluated. The results from flow cytometry were expressed as levels of IgG reactivity, based on the percentage of positive fluorescent parasites (PPFP).

Detection of Leishmania infantum in animals and their ectoparasites by conventional PCR and real time PCR.

Visceral leishmaniosis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infantum, which is primarily transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. However, there has been much speculation on the role of other arthropods in the transmission of VL. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the presence of L.

Evaluation of anti-lived and anti-fixed Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigote IgG antibodies detected by flow cytometry for diagnosis and post-therapeutic cure assessment in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis.

This study aims to investigate a flow cytometry performance-based methodology to detect anti-live (FC-ALPA-IgG) and anti-fixed (FC-AFPA-IgG) Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigote IgG as a means to monitor post-therapeutic cure of patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL). Serum samples from 30 LCL patients infected with L. (V.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: a critical appraisal of studies conducted in State of Pernambuco.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a complex disease with clinical and epidemiological features that may vary from region to region. In fact, at least seven different Leishmania species, including Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni, Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi, Leishmania (Viannia) shawi, Leishmania (Viannia) lindenbergi, and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, have been implicated in the etiology of ACL in Brazil, and numerous phlebotomine sandfly species of the genus Lutzomyia have been regarded as putative or proven vectors. Because ACL is a focal disease, understanding the disease dynamics at the local level is essential for the implementation of more effective control measures.

Characterization of novel Leishmania infantum recombinant proteins encoded by genes from five families with distinct capacities for serodiagnosis of canine and human visceral leishmaniasis.

To expand the available panel of recombinant proteins that can be useful for identifying Leishmania-infected dogs and for diagnosing human visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we selected recombinant antigens from L. infantum, cDNA, and genomic libraries by using pools of serum samples from infected dogs and humans. The selected DNA fragments encoded homologs of a cytoplasmic heat-shock protein 70, a kinesin, a polyubiquitin, and two novel hypothetical proteins.

Characterization of Leishmania spp. causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

In the State of Amazonas, American tegumentary leishmaniasis is endemic and presents a wide spectrum of clinical variability due to the large diversity of circulating species in the region. Isolates from patients in Manaus and its metropolitan region were characterized using monoclonal antibodies and isoenzymes belonging to four species of the parasite: Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, 73% (153/209); Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, 14% (30/209); Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, 8% (17/209); and Leishmania (Viannia) naiffii, 4% (9/209). The most prevalent species was L.

[Prevalence of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in dogs from Garanhuns, in the middle scrub zone (Agreste) of Pernambuco].

Introduction: Considering the unknown situation regarding canine visceral leishmaniasis in Garanhuns, this study had the aim of investigating occurrences of anti-Leishmania spp antibodies in domesticated and partially domesticated dogs, and the possible risk factors involved.

Methods: In the first phase of the study, 256 blood samples were collected from dogs and subjected to the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) reaction at a dilution of 1:40. Additionally, 23 IFAT-positive samples were tested using an immunochromatographic dipstick test.

[New outbreak of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in a military training center in the Zona da Mata region, in the north of the State of Pernambuco].

A new outbreak of American tegumentary leishmaniasis among military personnel is reported, with 71 cases confirmed by means of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory criteria. Seven samples were isolated and were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. The occurrence of outbreaks in this region confirms the endemic nature of this disease, and the magnitude of the occurrence seems to be related to non-adoption of individual protection measures.

Species diversity of Leishmania (Viannia) parasites circulating in an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis located in the Atlantic rainforest region of northeastern Brazil.

Objectives: To identify the aetiological agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis and to investigate the genetic polymorphism of Leishmania (Viannia) parasites circulating in an area with endemic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Atlantic rainforest region of northeastern Brazil.

Methods: Leishmania spp. isolates came from three sources: (i) patients diagnosed clinically and parasitologically with CL based on primary lesions, secondary lesions, clinical recidiva, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and scars; (ii) sentinel hamsters, sylvatic or synanthropic small rodents; and (iii) the sand fly species Lutzomyia whitmani.

Cellular immune response profile in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis prior and post chemotherapy treatment.

In this study, we have the objective of evaluating the lymphoproliferative response and determining interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-10 cytokine production in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis prior and post 12 months of chemotherapy treatment with meglumine antimoniate compared with the PBMC of noninfected donors. Lymphoproliferation, such as cytokine production, was evaluated through in vitro stimulus with the soluble antigenic fraction from Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes (1.25 microg/ml) and Concanavalin A (2.

Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Pernambuco.

The diagnosis for American cutaneous leishmaniasis is based on an association of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory characteristics. The present study identified the circulating species of Leishmania in the State of Pernambuco, described its clinical-epidemiological characteristics and diagnosed the disease. Nineteen patients presenting active lesions who had been diagnosed through clinical evaluation and laboratory tests were selected.

Clinical epidemiological profile of American tegumentary leishmaniasis at the Pinto Sugar Mill in Moreno Municipality, Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is present in all regions of Pernambuco State, Brazil, where it is spreading, with the emergence of foci in new areas like the Municipality (County) of Moreno in Greater Metropolitan Recife. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of infection and identify autochthonous cases of ATL. In April 2006 a population survey was performed using a questionnaire and the Montenegro skin test (MST) in 481 individuals from the Pinto Sugar Mill, of whom 47% were males and 74% were younger than 30 years.