TY - JOUR
T1 - The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel
T2 - A Nationwide Study
AU - Avni, Dror
AU - Solomon, Michal
AU - Strauss, Merav
AU - Sagi, Orli
AU - Temper, Violeta
AU - Michael-Gayego, Ayelet
AU - Meningher, Tal
AU - Avitan-Hersh, Emily
AU - Szwarcwort-Cohen, Moran
AU - Moran-Gilad, Jacob
AU - Ollech, Ayelet
AU - Schwartz, Eli
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/10
Y1 - 2024/10
N2 - Background: Leishmaniasis, mainly cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), is endemic in Israel. In recent years, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis has transitioned to a molecular diagnosis. Objective: To summarize all cases of leishmaniasis and the identified species seen in Israel based on molecular diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis between January 2017 and December 2022. All five medical centers in Israel in which Leishmania diagnosis is performed were included: Soroka, HaEmek, Hadassah, Rambam, and Sheba, all utilized molecular diagnostic methods. Data on the annual number of cases, species, age, and gender were retrieved. Results: During the years 2017–2022, a total of 4168 cases of leishmaniasis were diagnosed, which corresponds with ~7/100,000 inhabitants. L. (L.) major and L. (L.) tropica accounted for 84% and 14%, respectively. During the years 2020–2021, L. (L.) infantum emerged as a new form of cutaneous disease [2.7% of cases during this period]. Visceral L. (L.) infantum was found in five cases. Imported New World leishmaniasis accounted for 1% of the cases. L. (L.) major affected more males (67%) while L. (L.) tropica commonly affected more children and caused more facial lesions. Conclusions: The mean annual number of cases during these years is ~700. The dominant species is L. (L.) major. Since 2020, cutaneous L. (L.) infantum is an emerging infection in Israel.
AB - Background: Leishmaniasis, mainly cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), is endemic in Israel. In recent years, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis has transitioned to a molecular diagnosis. Objective: To summarize all cases of leishmaniasis and the identified species seen in Israel based on molecular diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis between January 2017 and December 2022. All five medical centers in Israel in which Leishmania diagnosis is performed were included: Soroka, HaEmek, Hadassah, Rambam, and Sheba, all utilized molecular diagnostic methods. Data on the annual number of cases, species, age, and gender were retrieved. Results: During the years 2017–2022, a total of 4168 cases of leishmaniasis were diagnosed, which corresponds with ~7/100,000 inhabitants. L. (L.) major and L. (L.) tropica accounted for 84% and 14%, respectively. During the years 2020–2021, L. (L.) infantum emerged as a new form of cutaneous disease [2.7% of cases during this period]. Visceral L. (L.) infantum was found in five cases. Imported New World leishmaniasis accounted for 1% of the cases. L. (L.) major affected more males (67%) while L. (L.) tropica commonly affected more children and caused more facial lesions. Conclusions: The mean annual number of cases during these years is ~700. The dominant species is L. (L.) major. Since 2020, cutaneous L. (L.) infantum is an emerging infection in Israel.
KW - cutaneous leishmaniasis
KW - L. (L.) infantum
KW - L. (L.) major
KW - L. (L.) tropica
KW - L. (V.) braziliensis
KW - visceral leishmaniasis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207668274&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/microorganisms12101950
DO - 10.3390/microorganisms12101950
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C2 - 39458260
AN - SCOPUS:85207668274
SN - 2076-2607
VL - 12
JO - Microorganisms
JF - Microorganisms
IS - 10
M1 - 1950
ER -