[Epidemiology of Chagas disease in Andrés Eloy Blanco, Lara, Venezuela: triatomine infestation and human seroprevalence].

A seroepidemiological survey and vector captures were performed in four rural communities in Andrés Eloy Blanco, Lara State, Venezuela. Systematic random sampling was based on family clusters, with samples drawn from 869 individuals to determine anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence.

Genotypically distinct Leishmania colombiensis isolates from Venezuela cause both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in humans.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Venezuela has been associated with different Leishmania species and the visceral form is frequently related to L. chagasi. However, in this study we have characterized as L.

Disseminated American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: While studying cutaneous leishmaniasis in the central part of western Venezuela, we found four cases of disseminated American cutaneous leishmaniasis, three from the Lara State and one from Portuguesa State.

Methods: A clinical history was taken for each of these patients, followed by microscopic examination of the Giemsastained smears from their cutaneous lesions and by a Montenegro skin test. Serum from a skin lesion were grown in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium (NNN).