Exposure to Leishmania spp. infection and Lutzomyia spp. in individuals living in an area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Karina Yukie Hirata, Edenilson Borges de Oliveira Sobrinho, Lais Rigon, Yuri Tani Utsunomiya, Thaise Yumie Tomokane, Márcia Dalastra Laurenti, Mary Marcondes
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2019
• Subjects: Antibodies; Humoral immunity; Sandfly saliva; Serology; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0320-2019; https://doaj.org/article/6fdd87069875482ab7c09ddb1634f906

Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate human exposure to Leishmania spp. infection and sandflies in an area endemic for the disease. METHODS: The presence of antibodies specific for Leishmania spp. and saliva of Lutzomyia spp. and that of L. infantum DNA in blood were evaluated. RESULTS: Antibodies against Leishmania spp. and sandfly saliva were observed in 20.8% and 37.7% of individuals, respectively. DNA of Leishmania spp. was amplified from the blood of one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Leishmania spp. infection may be underdiagnosed in this area.