Emergence of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major: a case series from Kerala, India

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 123; no. 7; p. 278
• Main Authors: Fathima, P. A., Aiswarya, R. S., Shah, Harish Kumar, Ajithlal, P. M., Rajesh, K. R., Shubin, C., Reena, K. J., Kumar, Ashwani, Saini, Prasanta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 18-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brief Report; Communicable Diseases, Imported - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Imported - parasitology; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; Endemic species; Female; Geographical distribution; Humans; Immunology; India - epidemiology; Leishmania; Leishmania major - genetics; Leishmania major - isolation & purification; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Male; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Parasitic diseases; Visceral leishmaniasis; India; Kerala India; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Kerala; Imported case; Leishmania major
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08304-z

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is often considered a ‘great imitator’ and is the most common form of leishmaniasis. The
Leishmania
species responsible for CL varies among countries, as these species exhibit specific distribution patterns. The increased mobility of people across countries has resulted in the imported incidences of leishmaniasis caused by non-endemic species of
Leishmania
. During 2023, we confirmed three CL cases caused by
L. major
from Kerala, India, and upon detailed investigation, these were identified to be imported from the Middle East and Kazakhstan regions. This is the first report of CL caused by
L. major
from Kerala. The lesion morphology, detection of anti-rK 39 antibody and
Leishmania
parasite DNA from the blood samples were the unique observations of these cases. Kerala, being an emerging endemic zone of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and CL, the imported incidences of leishmaniasis by non-endemic species can pose a significant threat, potentially initiating new transmission cycles of leishmaniasis caused by non-endemic species.