Characterisation of the ex vivo virulence of Leishmania infantum isolates from Phlebotomus perniciosus from an outbreak of human leishmaniosis in Madrid, Spain

[Background] Since mid 2009, an outbreak of human leishmaniosis in Madrid, Spain, has involved more than 560 clinical cases. Many of the cases occurred in people who live in areas around a newly constructed green park (BosqueSur). This periurban park provides a suitable habitat for sand flies (the v...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Domínguez-Bernal, Gustavo, Jiménez, Maribel, Molina, Ricardo, Ordóñez-Gutiérrez, Lara, Martínez-Rodrigo, Abel, Mas, Alicia, Cutuli, María Teresa, Carrión, Javier
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/125816
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/125816
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Leishmania infantum
Phlebotomus perniciosus
Leishmaniosis
Outbreak
Virulence
BosqueSur
Madrid
Spain
Descripción
Sumario:[Background] Since mid 2009, an outbreak of human leishmaniosis in Madrid, Spain, has involved more than 560 clinical cases. Many of the cases occurred in people who live in areas around a newly constructed green park (BosqueSur). This periurban park provides a suitable habitat for sand flies (the vectors of Leishmania infantum). Indeed, studies of blood meals from sand flies captured in the area showed a strong association between the insect vector, hares or rabbits, and humans in the area. Interestingly, up to 70% of cases have been found in immunocompetent patients (aged between 46-60 years). This study was designed to evaluate the ex vivo virulence of the L. infantum isolates from Phlebotomus perniciosus captured in this area of Madrid.