Cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: a critical appraisal of studies conducted in State of Pernambuco

• Main Authors: Maria Edileuza Felinto de Brito, Maria Sandra Andrade, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Eduardo Henrique Gomes Rodrigues, Milena de Paiva Cavalcanti, Alzira Maria Paiva de Almeida, Sinval Pinto Brandão-Filho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2012-08-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Leishmaniose cutânea; Leishmania braziliensis; Reservatórios; Insetos vetores; Diagnóstico; Epidemiologia
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822012000400002&lng=en&tlng=en

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a complex disease with clinical and epidemiological features that may vary from region to region. In fact, at least seven different Leishmania species, including Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis, Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni, Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi, Leishmania (Viannia) shawi, Leishmania (Viannia) lindenbergi, and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, have been implicated in the etiology of ACL in Brazil, and numerous phlebotomine sandfly species of the genus Lutzomyia have been regarded as putative or proven vectors. Because ACL is a focal disease, understanding the disease dynamics at the local level is essential for the implementation of more effective control measures. The present paper is a narrative review about the ACL epidemiology in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Furthermore, the need for more effective diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention strategies for the affected populations is highlighted. This paper will provide researchers with a critical appraisal of ACL in Pernambuco. Hopefully, it will also be helpful for public health authorities to improve current control strategies against ACL at the state and country levels.