Short report epidemiologic studies on cutaneous leishmaniasis in eastern Panama

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 54 - 57
• Main Authors: Christensen, HA, de Vasquez, AM, Petersen, JL
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS ASTMH 01.01.1999; Allen Press
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Antigens, Protozoan; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Incidence; Infectious diseases; Insect Vectors; Leishmania amazonensis; Leishmania guyanensis - immunology; Leishmania mexicana; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - transmission; Leshmaniasis; Medical sciences; Panama; Panama - epidemiology; Parasitic diseases; Prevalence; Protozoal diseases; Psychodidae; Skin Tests; Tropical medicine; Central America; Panama; America; Infection; Human; Protozoal disease; Prevalence; Geographic distribution; Skin; Parasitosis; Leishmaniasis; Epidemiology; Incidence
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1999.60.54

The Panamanian Ministry of Health, through the Interamerican Development Bank, contracted the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory to conduct epidemiologic studies on leishmaniasis and malaria in eastern Panama from July 1984 through June 1985. Preliminary results of the biomedical and entomologic teams investigating the epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the eastern part of the country are presented in this short report. The principal findings of the study revealed 1) a large disparity in the incidence and prevalence of the disease among the five communities investigated; 2) the appearance of self-cures without the benefit of effective treatment; 3) a relatively high percentage of subclinical cases; and 4) determination of the sandfly vector species for each community. Also reported here is a case of a double infection with two distinct species of Leishmania, L. mexicana and L. amazonensis, in a single individual.