10/26/2023 / By Olivia Cook
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that cases of leishmaniasis are growing in the United States, even affecting people who have not traveled to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, where this parasitic disease is endemic and more prevalent.
Infected dogs imported from the aforementioned tropical regions are believed to be the carriers of the disease, which can then be transmitted to humans. Many of the 86 identified cases of the milder form of leishmaniasis were found in Texas, while others were detected in Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma.
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by a single-celled protozoan (parasite) from the genus Leishmania. Dogs and humans can get this disease if they are bitten by a blood-sucking sandfly carrying the Leishmania infantum parasite.
When a female phlebotomine sandfly bites an infected reservoir host, it also sucks in the parasite, which continues to multiply inside the insect. It can then transmit the parasite to another reservoir (animal or human) during its next blood meal.
Canine leishmaniasis is widespread in more than 70 countries but is most common in Mediterranean areas as the Leishmania parasite thrives in warm climates. The period in which leishmaniasis risk is the highest is from the months of April to October.
Sandflies hide during daytime and come out late in the afternoon, becoming very active from dusk until dawn.
Many dogs manage to lead almost normal lives even if the Leishmania parasite stays with them for many years.
Experts believe there are about 20 different Leishmania species that can spread the infection to humans in three forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of the disease. One of the “most neglected tropical diseases,” it causes acne- or freckle-like lesions (primary) or skin sores and ulcers (secondary lesions) on exposed parts of the body.
The skin lesions could take weeks or months to appear after being bitten by an infected sandfly. Some lesions may eventually heal on their own after months or years, according to the CDC.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis can leave life-long scars and can lead to issues relating to depression and social stigma, says parasitologist David Molyneux of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in England.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 95 percent of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases occur in the Americas, Central Asia, the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. However, only about 200,000 cases out of an estimated 600,000 to a million are reported.
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a rare form of the disease that affects the nose and mouth and could lead to partial or total damage to the mucous membranes. It is more serious than cutaneous leishmaniasis because it does not heal on its own and always requires treatment.
Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is the most severe and progressive form of the disease because it is almost always fatal if left untreated. Symptoms of this disease include anemia, enlargement of the liver and spleen, irregular bouts of fever and weight loss.
The WHO estimates that about 50,000 to 90,000 cases of visceral leishmaniasis occur worldwide annually. This estimate only includes about 25 to 45 percent of cases that have been reported to the organization. Visceral leishmaniasis has a high outbreak and mortality potential.
Leishmania can only be transmitted to humans through the bite of a female phlebotomine sandfly that has previously bitten an infected mammal. Avoiding the bite of this insect is the best way to prevent leishmaniasis in dogs and humans.
Focus your infection control measures on preventing contact with the insect vector – either through physical barriers, chemical barriers or handling. (Related: Parasitic disease in dogs can be treated with natural products containing vitamin C.)
Visit Outbreak.news for more stories like this.
Watch the following video to learn more about leishmaniasis.
This is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.
Neglected tropical diseases are getting neglected even more because of coronavirus.
Protect yourself against risk of early death: Get a dog.
Pet dogs go out of their way to comfort humans they sense are sick or depressed.
Sources include:
ParasitesAndVectors.BioMedCentral.com
Tagged Under:
animals, CDC, cutaneous leishmaniasis, Dangerous, dogs, flesh-eating parasite, Leishmania, leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, outbreak, parasitic infection, pet health, prevention, reservoir hosts, sandflies, tips, visceral leishmaniasis
This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
COPYRIGHT © 2017 CDC NEWS