New evidence suggests that a tropical disease known as cutaneous leishmaniasis is now being detected in Texas and other southern states in the U.S. This disease, which causes disfiguring skin ulcers, was once seen almost exclusively in travelers returning from countries where leishmaniasis is common. However, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that there are now cases of the disease in individuals with no travel history.
The rise in domestic infections over the past decade has sparked interest from researchers, who have discovered that the strain of the Leishmania mexicana parasite responsible for the infections in non-travelers has a distinct genetic fingerprint. This suggests that a uniquely American genotype of the disease is being spread by local sandfly populations. The fact that the sand flies that carry leishmaniasis can be found in many parts of the country, especially in the southern United States, has led to concerns that the disease may be well-established in some regions.
Texas has been particularly affected by leishmaniasis, with an increasing number of cases being reported. This could be due to changes in climate conditions that provide suitable environments for sandfly survival and reproduction, enabling the transmission of the disease in new areas. The researchers also warn of the potential for a more serious form of leishmaniasis, known as visceral leishmaniasis, to become endemic in domestic sandfly populations. This could occur if the sand flies acquire the parasite from imported dogs that are carrying the disease.
Dogs are the primary host for leishmaniasis, and the increasing number of dogs being imported into the United States from regions where the disease is common is a cause for concern. Currently, most imported dogs are not properly screened for infectious diseases, and there is a need for a better system to prevent the transmission of leishmaniasis to U.S. sandfly populations.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin infection caused by a single-celled parasite that is transmitted by the bite of a sandfly. It can cause disfiguring scars if left untreated. Visceral leishmaniasis affects internal organs and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people worldwide each year. There are no drugs to prevent the disease, but there are medications available for treating infections in humans. In dogs, medications can reduce the number of parasites they carry and lower the risk of transmission.
The researchers emphasize the need for a global approach to fighting infectious diseases like leishmaniasis, especially in the face of climate change, which allows insects that carry the disease to expand their range. By working together, the global community can combat these diseases and prevent their spread.