New guidelines released for identifying and combating emerging leishmaniasis infections

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) recently released new guidelines for preventing and combating an emerging parasitic infection called leishmaniasis.

The leishmania parasite is found in approximately 90 percent of the world. Infections are typically caused from the bite of a sand fly, however, most infections occur outside of the United States. The new guidelines were released due to the growth of international travelers, soldiers and immigrants with leishmaniasis being diagnosed in the United States.

“Leishmaniasis is an increasingly common infection in ecotourists traveling to Central and South America. Travelers visiting the jungle in the Amazon basin have a high likelihood of being exposed,” said Dr. Naomi Aronson, lead author of the guidelines. “The cutaneous and mucosal forms of the infection cause serious scarring and visceral leishmaniasis can be deadly, so timely diagnosis and treatment managed by an infectious diseases physician is vital.”

Due to the rarity of the disease being seen in the United States, many doctors are unfamiliar with leishmaniasis and don’t typically suspect it when diagnosing patients. While there are approximately 20 types of Leishmania parasites, three are most commonly seen in diagnoses including the cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucosal leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis.

ISDA is a professional society representing nearly 10,000 physicians and scientists who specialize in infectious diseases.