The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study

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....

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Main Authors: Dror Avni, Michal Solomon, Merav Strauss, Orli Sagi, Violeta Temper, Ayelet Michael-Gayego, Tal Meningher, Emily Avitan-Hersh, Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen, Jacob Moran-Gilad, Ayelet Ollech, Eli Schwartz
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/10/1950
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author Dror Avni
Michal Solomon
Merav Strauss
Orli Sagi
Violeta Temper
Ayelet Michael-Gayego
Tal Meningher
Emily Avitan-Hersh
Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen
Jacob Moran-Gilad
Ayelet Ollech
Eli Schwartz
author_facet Dror Avni
Michal Solomon
Merav Strauss
Orli Sagi
Violeta Temper
Ayelet Michael-Gayego
Tal Meningher
Emily Avitan-Hersh
Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen
Jacob Moran-Gilad
Ayelet Ollech
Eli Schwartz
author_sort Dror Avni
collection DOAJ
description 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. <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i> and <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i> accounted for 84% and 14%, respectively. During the years 2020–2021, <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> emerged as a new form of cutaneous disease [2.7% of cases during this period]. Visceral <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> was found in five cases. Imported New World leishmaniasis accounted for 1% of the cases. <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i> affected more males (67%) while <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i> 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 <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major.</i> Since 2020, cutaneous <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> is an emerging infection in Israel.
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spelling doaj-art-857cc7531a2c4d7ebb6dc42dbb6152d82025-08-20T02:10:57ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-09-011210195010.3390/microorganisms12101950The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide StudyDror Avni0Michal Solomon1Merav Strauss2Orli Sagi3Violeta Temper4Ayelet Michael-Gayego5Tal Meningher6Emily Avitan-Hersh7Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen8Jacob Moran-Gilad9Ayelet Ollech10Eli Schwartz11 Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan 52621, IsraelThe Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, IsraelMolecular Microbiology Laboratory, HaEmek Medical Center, Afula 183111, IsraelClinical Parasitology, Soroka University Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 84101, IsraelHadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, IsraelHadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan 52621, IsraelDepartments of Dermatology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa 31096, IsraelDepartments of Dermatology, Rambam Health Care Campus and Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa 31096, IsraelHadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, IsraelPediatric Dermatology Service, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan 52621, IsraelBackground: 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. <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i> and <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i> accounted for 84% and 14%, respectively. During the years 2020–2021, <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> emerged as a new form of cutaneous disease [2.7% of cases during this period]. Visceral <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> was found in five cases. Imported New World leishmaniasis accounted for 1% of the cases. <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i> affected more males (67%) while <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i> 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 <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major.</i> Since 2020, cutaneous <i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i> is an emerging infection in Israel.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/10/1950cutaneous leishmaniasisvisceral leishmaniasis<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i><i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i><i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i><i>L.</i> (V.) <i>braziliensis</i>
spellingShingle Dror Avni
Michal Solomon
Merav Strauss
Orli Sagi
Violeta Temper
Ayelet Michael-Gayego
Tal Meningher
Emily Avitan-Hersh
Moran Szwarcwort-Cohen
Jacob Moran-Gilad
Ayelet Ollech
Eli Schwartz
The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
Microorganisms
cutaneous leishmaniasis
visceral leishmaniasis
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i>
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i>
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i>
<i>L.</i> (V.) <i>braziliensis</i>
title The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
title_full The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
title_fullStr The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
title_full_unstemmed The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
title_short The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study
title_sort epidemiology of pcr confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis in israel a nationwide study
topic cutaneous leishmaniasis
visceral leishmaniasis
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>major</i>
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>tropica</i>
<i>L.</i> (L.) <i>infantum</i>
<i>L.</i> (V.) <i>braziliensis</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/10/1950
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