Clinical performance of a quantitative pan-genus Real-time PCR assay for diagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a complex vector-borne disease caused by various species, affecting humans and animals. Current diagnostic methods have limitations, leading to potential misdiagnosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need for specific and sensitive diagnostic tools.

An overview of the trypanosomatid (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) parasites infecting several mammal species in Colombia.

Background: Trypanosomatids are among the most critical parasites for public health due to their impact on human, animal, and plant health. Diseases associated with these pathogens manifest mainly in poor and vulnerable populations, where social, environmental, and biological factors modulate the case incidence and geographical distribution.

Methods: We used Sanger and amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) in samples from different mammals to identify trypanosomatid infections in several departments in Colombia.

Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing reveals the co-existence of multiple Leishmania species in patients with visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a mammalian protozoal disease propagated in the Americas by female phlebotomine sandflies, mainly caused by Leishmania infantum. However, in recent years, cases of VL caused by different Leishmania species, such as L. amazonensis and L.

Development of an Amplicon-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Protocol to Identify Species and Other Trypanosomatids in Leishmaniasis Endemic Areas.

Trypanosomatid infections are an important public health threat affecting many low-income countries across the tropics, particularly in the Americas. Trypanosomatids can infect many vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species and play an important role as human pathogens. Among these clinically relevant pathogens are species from the genera and .

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2007 to 2018.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease associated with poverty and is endemic in 56 countries worldwide. Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia are the most affected countries in South America. In Colombia, the National Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) consolidates epidemiological information and monitors all VL cases nationwide.

Evaluation of four rapid diagnostic tests for canine and human visceral Leishmaniasis in Colombia.

Background: Leishmaniasis caused by different species of Leishmania affect 98 countries worldwide. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the mortal clinical presentation of the disease that causes the dead to more than 90% of the patients who suffer it. The diagnosis of VL is made by the direct observation of the parasite in bone marrow, spleen and/or liver aspirates that requires complex proceedings.

Comparison of methodologies for microscopic malaria diagnosis.

Introduction: As part of the pre-elimination plan for malaria in Colombia, it has been proposed to develop activities within the line of work: “Improve access and quality of malaria diagnosis”. Objective: To compare the methodology recommended by PAHO/WHO with that used in Colombia for the diagnosis of malaria. Materials and methods: Samples were collected and 88 slides were prepared for malaria diagnosis, under different scenarios according to the parameters to be evaluated.

Description of Leishmania species among dogs and humans in Colombian Visceral Leishmaniasis outbreaks.

We report the species detected in dogs and humans from outbreaks of visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia. In this study, 91 sera from patients (n = 38) and dogs (n = 53) diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis using IFAT were analyzed to determine the causative species. DNA extraction, PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and species identification was performed.

Analytical Performance of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for DNA Detection in Sandflies and Direct Smears of Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is ideal for the detection of DNA as it is a quick and easy-to-perform test that does not require complex or sophisticated equipment or infrastructure. However, the application of this technique in the detection of DNA has not been comprehensively analyzed to date (analytical validation). Our objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and analytical specificity (anticipated reportable range [ARR], the limit of detection [LoD], and accuracy) of LAMP targeting the 18S rRNA gene in the diagnosis of six New World species.

Analytical Performance of Four Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Real Time PCR (qPCR) Assays for the Detection of Six Species DNA in Colombia.

Leishmaniasis comprises a spectrum of parasitic diseases caused by protozoans of the genus . Molecular tools have been widely employed for the detection of due to its high sensitivity and specificity. However, the analytical performance of molecular platforms as PCR and real time PCR (qPCR) including a wide variety of molecular markers has never been evaluated.

Evaluation of a Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) scheme for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis in Colombia.

Background: Leishmaniases are parasitic vector-borne diseases affecting more than 12 million people in 98 countries. In Colombia, leishmaniasis is widespread and the most common clinical manifestation is cutaneous, mainly caused by L. panamensis and L.

Taxonomy, diversity, temporal and geographical distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombia: A retrospective study.

Leishmaniases are tropical zoonotic diseases, caused by kinetoplastid parasites from the genus Leishmania. New World (NW) species are related to sylvatic cycles although urbanization processes have been reported in some South American Countries such as Colombia. Currently, few studies show the relative distribution of Leishmania species related to cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in South America due to the lack of accurate surveillance and public health systems.

Identification of six New World Leishmania species through the implementation of a High-Resolution Melting (HRM) genotyping assay.

Background: Leishmaniases are tropical zoonotic diseases, caused by parasites from the genus Leishmania. New World (NW) species are related to sylvatic cycles although urbanization processes have been reported in some South American Countries such as Colombia. This eco-epidemiological complexity imposes a challenge to the detection of circulating parasite species, not only related to human cases but also infecting vectors and reservoirs.

[Seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in sector 8 of Neiva and in four municipalities of Huila, Colombia].

Introduction: Canine visceral leishmaniasis in endemic areas of Colombia could be a public health risk factor given the zoonotic nature of the disease. Ninety-six human cases of visceral leishmaniasis were reported in Colombia in 2004, 5 of them in Huila, where Lutzomyia longipalpis has been incriminated as the main vector species.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Leishmania chagasi in dogs from the sector 8 of the city of Neiva and the from the towns of Villavieja, Algeciras, Palermo and Rivera located in Huila, Colombia.