Studies on New World leishmaniasis and its transmission

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In Ecuador, a leishmaniasis project entitled "Studies on New World leishmaniasis and its transmission, with particular refernce to Ecuador" has been carried out from 1986 to date. During the research term, a considerable information has been accumulated and the result obtained has been used for the public health administration in that country. In the present research period from 1996 to 1997, epidemiological and clinical data were collected, in addition to diagnosis and treatment of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Regarding to Leishmania isolates from patients, vector sandflies and reservoir hosts, they were characterized by using different types of techniques, such as karyotype analysis, ELISA and etc. Based on the results obtained, a trial has been done to depict the geographical distribution of each species of the genus Leishmania in Ecuador. DNA sequencings of the parasites and sandflies were also made using materials collected in different endemic areas of Ecuador for the purpose of their classification and epidemiological appllication. Pathological observations were also made electon-microscopically in animals infected experimentally with Leishmania parasites from CL (cutaneous leishmaniasis) and DCL (diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis) origin. In order to get more sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of the disease, PCR using different primers was compared with traditionally-used techniques, such as smears, cultures and others.A clinico-epidemiological survey was performed in several endemic areas located at the Pacific Coastal regions of Ecuador, in addition to differential diagnosis between cutaneous leishmaniasis and other skin diseases.