Human cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum in the Sidi Bourouis focus (Northern Tunisia): epidemiological study and isoenzymatic characterization of the parasites

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 83 - 86
• Main Authors: Belhadj, S., Pratlong, F., Hammami, M., Kallel, K., Dedet, J.P., Chaker, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Child, Preschool; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Female; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Isoenzymes - analysis; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania infantum - enzymology; Leishmania infantum - genetics; Leishmania infantum - isolation & purification; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - drug therapy; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Leshmaniasis; Male; Medical sciences; Meglumine - pharmacology; Meglumine - therapeutic use; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacology; Organometallic Compounds - therapeutic use; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Tropical medicine; Tunisia; Tunisia - epidemiology; Tunisia; Africa; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Tunisia; Leishmania infantum; Kinetoplastida; Human; Protozoa; Skin disease; Protozoal disease; Isozyme; Parasite; Identification; Parasitosis; Leishmaniasis; Epidemiology; Infection; Characterization; Microbiological investigation; Skin
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/S0001-706X(02)00255-3

The authors report an increase of the number of case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Sidi Bourouis region community of Siliana Governorate (Tunisia), with 38 cases diagnosed in 6 months (1st November 2000–30th April 2001), contrary to its usual sporadic character. The isoenzymatic identification of 15 isolated strains emphasizes the role of the Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-1 as an important factor in the genesis of the sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis of Northern Tunisia. In fact it was isolated in 6 cases while L. infantum MON-24, the usual agent was isolated in 9 cases.