Reappraisal of Leishmanin Skin Test (LST) in the management of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A retrospective analysis from a reference center in Argentina

KROLEWIECKI, ALEJANDRO JAVIER; ALMAZAN, MARIA CRISTINA; QUIPILDOR, MARCELO; JUAREZ, MARISA; GIL, JOSE FERNANDO; ESPINOSA, MARCO; CANABIRE, MARIA; CAJAL, SILVANA PAMELA

PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Año: 2017 vol. 11

1935-2735

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the species most frequently implicated with cutaneousand mucosal leishmaniasis in the Americas; its diagnosis is based on the identification ofamastigotes in lesions, which is limited by low parasite burden. Leishmanin Skin Test (LST)is a support tool for diagnosis, based on delayed type hypersensitivity responses to Leishmaniaantigens injected intradermally, used in endemic areas as a complement to diagnosis.A retrospective analysis of individuals evaluated for their first episode of tegumentaryleishmaniasis at a reference center in Argentina during the period 2006±2015 was performed,with the goal of assessing its usefulness as a support tool in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis.Demographic, clinical and diagnostic work-up were analyzed in individuals withclinically compatible lesions, lesion`s smear and LST. A total of 733 cases that met the casedefinition were included in the analysis; 678 (93%) localized cutaneous cases, 50 (7%) withmucosal involvement and 5 (