Flesh-Eating Parasitic Disease Spreading Through Sand Flies in the US
A flesh-eating parasitic disease, known as leishmaniasis, typically associated with travel to tropical or subtropical areas, is now becoming a concern in parts of the United States. According to a recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this disease is spreading through sand flies in certain regions of the country. Previously, it was believed that leishmaniasis was solely a result of international travel, but now it seems that the disease may be regularly occurring, or endemic, in states such as Texas.
Leishmaniasis is transmitted through the bite of an infected female sand fly, which feeds on blood to produce eggs. The infection is most common in parts of Africa, Brazil, and the eastern Mediterranean region. However, recent reports suggest that the disease is emerging closer to home. The CDC has received anecdotal reports of leishmaniasis cases in Florida, although these have not been confirmed. Additionally, there have been occasional cases among individuals who have not traveled internationally in southeast Oklahoma and Arizona.
Microbiologist Vita Cama, working in the CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, highlighted the significance of this finding. She said, Historically, it was considered that cutaneous leishmaniasis, or any type of leishmaniasis, is linked to international travel. We were doing a different kind of analysis to see what kind of samples were coming to the lab at the CDC, and we noticed there was a specific group that did not report any international travel.
The CDC’s analysis revealed that nearly all non-travelers who contracted leishmaniasis were infected by the same species of Leishmania parasites. This suggests that the parasite could be present in other hosts, such as rodents, and transmitted through the sand flies.
Leishmaniasis manifests in various clinical presentations, with the most common form known as cutaneous leishmaniasis. It can cause ulcers and permanent scars, while more severe variations of the disease can be fatal. Consequently, it is crucial to monitor the spread of leishmaniasis and raise awareness among healthcare professionals.
Texas has seen a significant number of leishmaniasis cases, with 38 locally acquired cases and 117 total cases reported between 2007 and 2022. Although most of these cases were concentrated near the Texas-Mexico border, three locally acquired cases have been reported in Travis County since 2007.
To address this growing concern, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has designated leishmaniasis as a reportable condition and encourages doctors to consider the infection if patients present with consistent symptoms and have not recently traveled overseas.
Texas, with its robust reporting system, might be uncovering more cases compared to other states. This raises questions about the potential extent of leishmaniasis across the nation. Until other states develop better reporting procedures, it may be challenging to gauge the true prevalence of the disease in the US.
Preventive measures recommended by the DSHS align with those for other insect-transmitted diseases. It is advised to wear long sleeves and apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors to minimize the risk of being bitten by sand flies.
As researchers continue to monitor the situation, it is essential to raise awareness about leishmaniasis and its potential spread. By doing so, healthcare professionals can provide timely diagnoses and treatments, ultimately minimizing the impact of this flesh-eating parasitic disease in the US.
Keywords: leishmaniasis, flesh-eating parasitic disease, sand flies, transmission, endemic, Texas, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), global health, sand fly bites, symptoms, prevention, public health awareness, diagnosis, treatment.
