Epidemiology of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis and Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the Northwestern Argentina

HOYOS C; CAJAL SP; JUAREZ M; MARCO JD; ALBERTI D'AMATO A; CAYO M; TORREJÓN I; CIMINO R; DIOSQUE P; KROLEWIECKI AJ; NASSER J; GIL JF

BioMed Research International

HINDAWI PUBLISHING CORPORATION

Lugar: New York; Año: 2016 vol. 2016 p. 1 - 8

2314-6141

Background. Endemic areas of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) in Salta, Argentina, present some overlap zones with thegeographical distribution of Chagas disease, with mixed infection cases being often detected. Objectives. The purpose of this studywas to determine the magnitude of Leishmania sp. infection and potential associated risk factors, the serologic prevalence of T.cruzi, and the presence of T. cruzi-Leishmania sp. mixed infection in a region of the northwest of Argentina. Methods. Crosssectionalstudies were conducted to detect TL prevalence and T. cruzi seroprevalence. A case-control study was conducted toexamine leishmaniasis risk factors. Results. Prevalence of TL was 0.17%, seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was 9.73%, and mixedinfection proportion?within the leishmaniasic patients group?was 16.67%. The risk factors associated with TL transmission weresex, age, exposure to bites at work, staying outdoors more than 10 hours/day, bathing in the river, and living with people whohad lesions or were infected during the study. Discussion. The endemic pattern of TL seems to involve exposure of patients tovectors in wild as well as peridomestic environment. Cases of T. cruzi infection are apparently due to migration. Therefore, a carefulepidemiological surveillance is necessary due to the contraindication of antimonial administration to chagasic patients.