[Leish-l] Novo vetor da Leishmaniose

[TECSA - Luiz Ristow]

Boa Tarde!

Interessante para revermos posturas e pesquisarmos mais aqui no Brasil
Abraços
Bom ano Novo e com certeza estaremos muito juntos em 2011


Luiz E. Ristow




LEISHMANIASIS, CUTANEOUS - AUSTRALIA: NEW VECTOR
************************************************

Date: Wed 22 Dec 2010
Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-12/22/c_13660121.htm>


Leishmaniasis can be transmitted by biting midgets
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Australian researchers said Wednesday [22 Dec 2010] they have found a 
deadly parasite can be transmitted by more than one species of 
insect, raising hopes the discovery could save lives. The 
leishmaniasis parasite causes a disease that leads to large ulcers 
forming on the skin.

According to Menzies School of Health researcher Deborah Holt, no 
human cases have been recorded in Australia since the leishmaniasis 
parasite was discovered in Australia 7 years ago. The [strain] of 
parasite in Australia has only infected kangaroos and wallabies.

Scientists believed the disease could only be transmitted by 
sandflies, but Dr Holt said research shows biting midges can also act 
as a vector. Tens of thousands of people around the world are 
infected by leishmaniasis [parasite] every year and thousands die.

"That's the 1st evidence anywhere in the world that an insect other 
than a sandfly is capable of transmitting the parasite," she told ABC 
News on Wednesday [22 Dec 2010].

"This raises real possibilities that there are other insects involved 
and that may be a reason why some of the control programs don't work 
as well as they would be expected to." And in addition there are some 
places in the world where the vector is unknown and they cannot find 
evidence that they are being transmitted by sandflies. And now we 
believe that this may be because they are being transmitted by another
insect."

Holt said if a deadlier strain was to enter the country from 
overseas, it could pose a significant risk to people.

--

[The information in the news release is based on studies so far only 
available at the Australian Department of Agriculture and Fisheries 
website 
(<http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/emergency/wedpp/leishmania-in-n
t>). 
The study indicates that the new species of _Leishmania_ identified 
in Australia (Dougall A et al: New reports of Australian cutaneous 
leishmaniasis in Northern Australian macropods. Epidemiol Infect. 
2009; 137(10): 1516-20; abstract available at 
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19288959>) is transmitted by 
biting midges and not by sandflies. The midges have been identified 
as "day feeding midges of the _Lasiohelea_ spp., with a prevalence of 
up to 15 percent from a new undescribed species." Biting midges are 
small flies belonging to the order Diptera, and other biting midges 
are vectors of bluetongue and African horse sickness.

If confirmed, the finding indicates that this group of insects could 
also be vectors in other parts of the world, which will have 
implications for control programs. - Mod.EP]

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