Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Federal District of Brazil

Santos GM (1), Kückelhaus SA (2), Roselino AM (3), Chaer WK (4), Sampaio RNR (1)

(1) Dermatology Service, University Hospital of Brasília, Laboratory of Dermatomycology, School of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; (2) Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Morphology Area, School of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; (3) Multiuser Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil; (4) Higher School of Health Sciences, Federal District Health Department, Brasília, Brazil.

Abstract: The first autochthonous case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was reported in the Federal District in 1980, and the species involved in this type of leishmaniasis was unknown. This study aimed to identify the species that causes the disease in the Federal District and to investigate its clinical and epidemiological aspects. Between 2000 and 2007, 71 autochthonous cases of leishmaniasis were reported in the Federal District. Leishmania species were identified by means of direct immunofluorescence reactions using monoclonal antibodies and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The species of 40 (56.33%) out of 71 samples were identified. Thirty-six (90%) were identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and four (10%) were identified as Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. In this area, the disease had clinical and epidemiological characteristics similar to those found in other Brazilian regions.

Key words: American cutaneous leishmaniasis, Leishmania Viannia braziliensis, Federal District, autochthonous cases.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Edna Ishikawa, Tércio Rodrigues Pereira and Sandra S. R. Souza for their help with species identification and their technical assistance.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: June 11, 2012.

Accepted: August 2, 2012.

Abstract published online: August 7, 2012.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The Foundation for Research Support of Federal District (FAP-DF), grant n. 193000332/2007, and the National Council for Research and Development (CNPq), grant n. 478575/2008-4, provided the financial support to this study.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, under registration number 005/2005. Furthermore, it is in compliance with the resolution n. 196/96 of the National Health Council, Brazilian Ministry of Health, on research involving human participants.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Raimunda Nonata R. Sampaio, SHIS QI 25, conjunto 2, casa 1, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 71660-220, Brasil. Phone: + 55 61 3367 1331. Email: raimunda.sampaio@gmail.com.