Observations on laboratory diagnosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemiology in the State of Paraná, South of Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 1999-07, Vol.32 (4)
• Main Authors: Silveira, Thaís Gomes Verzignassi, Arraes, Sandra Mara Alessi Aristides, Bertolini, Dennis Armando, Ueslei Teodoro, Lonardoni, Maria Valdrinez Campana, Roberto, Andréa Claudia Bekner Silva, Ramos, Miria, Nerilo, Sobrinho Antonio, Ishikawa, Edna, Shaw, Jeffrey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Lesions; Vector-borne diseases
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86821999000400013

Between 1986 and 1997 a total of 1418 patients were examined at the Clinical Analysis Teaching and Research Laboratory of Maringá State University (LEPAC/UEM) for cutaneous leishmaniasis by direct examination of stained smears made from the lesions, the Montenegro skin test and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Nine hundred and fifty five patients (67.3%) were positive for at least one of the three tests and of these 804 (84.2%) were considered to have contracted the disease in Paraná State; 665 (69.6%) were between 15 and 49 years old; 658 (68.9%) were males; 523 (54.8%) sought medical advice during the first three months of their infections and 74 (7.7%) had mucosal lesions. Of the 83 counties of Paraná State, where the patients had most probably acquired their infections, 44.7% were from the counties of São Jorge do Ivaí (10.2%), Doutor Camargo (9.8%), Terra Boa (7.3%), Maringá (7.3%), Jussara (6.0%) and Cianorte (4.5%). Seventy seven strains of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis were isolated and 63.6% of these strains belong to serodema 1.