An outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Modena province (Northern Italy): report of 35 cases.

An outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Modena province (Northern Italy): report of 35 cases. Pathologica. 2017 Dec;109(4):363-367 Authors: Cesinaro AM, Nosseir S, Mataca E, Mengoli MC, Cavatorta C, Gennari W Abstract Canine Leishmaniasis is a disease endemic in many parts of Europe, carried by insects of phlebotomous species. Humans are occasional hosts of the parasites. Cases of human leishmaniasis have been registered in Italy, particularly in the southern and coastal regions. In the period 1997-2016, we collected a series of 35 patients affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis, uncovered by skin biopsy and histological examination, 21 of them found in last 3 years. The patients, 28 males and 7 female, aged between 19 and 91, resided in a restricted area of Northern Italy, and none, but two, had travelled abroad. Lesions presented clinically mostly as single nodule or plaque, often ulcerated, and involved predominantly head-neck and upper extremities. Histology showed a diffuse, granulomatous inflammation including numerous plasma cells. Variable numbers of amastigotes were visible, usually in the superficial part of the dermis, in all cases but two. In these two cases, highly suspicious by clinico-pathologic features, PCR analysis allowed to achieve the correct diagnosis. Our attention was then focused on the geographical residence of the patients, that turned out to be mostly in the piedmont area, whereas only one lived in the allu...
Source: Pathologica - Category: Pathology Tags: Pathologica Source Type: research