Epidemiological and clinical study of 332 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the north of Parana State from 1993 to 1998

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 445 - 452
• Main Authors: de Castro, Edilene Alcântara, Soccol, Vanete Thomaz, Membrive, Norberto, Luz, Ennio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01-09-2002
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Endemic Diseases; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leishmania braziliensis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Lesions; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vector-borne diseases; Brazil
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822002000500004

Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in northern Parana State have been reported since the 1950's, but towards the end of the 1980's there has been an increase in the number of human infections. From 1993 to 1998, a study was carried out in an attempt to define the epidemiological profile of leishmaniasis in this region. A total of 316 cases of CL were reported from 35 municipal districts and 16 imported cases. Most cases of CL notified (70.8%) were in the age group of 15 to 49 years old and most of these were males (61.2%). Of the 332 positive patients, 66.8% presented single classic lesions and 31.1% multiple lesions. Most of these lesions were located in the lower limbs (47.7%) while 26.7% were in the arms and 16% on the face. Thirty-two Leishmania stocks were isolated and identified by isoenzymatic characterization using 13 enzymatic systems as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.