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

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: GM Santos, SA Kückelhaus, AM Roselino, WK Chaer, RNR Sampaio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2012
• Subjects: American cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania Viannia braziliensis; Federal District; autochthonous cases; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992012000300012; https://doaj.org/article/b4d1e26a959c42ce962b5ed6aaefd83b

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.