**Visceral Leishmaniasis and Natural Infection Rates of** *Leishmania* **in** *Lutzomyia longipalpis* **in Latin America** *Leishmania* **in** *Lutzomyia longipalpis* **in Latin America**

**Visceral Leishmaniasis and Natural Infection Rates of** 

Kárita Cláudia Freitas Lidani, Fabiana A. Andrade, Maria R.P.A. Tizzot, Magda C.V. Costa-Ribeiro, Marcia H. Beltrame and Iara J. Messias-Reason Andrade, Maria R.P.A. Tizzot, Magda C.V. Costa-Ribeiro, Marcia H. Beltrame and Iara J. Messias-Reason

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Kárita Cláudia Freitas Lidani, Fabiana A.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/65787

#### **Abstract**

Leishmaniasis, a neglected disease caused by protozoans of the *Leishmania* genus, is still present in 98 countries with about two million new cases yearly worldwide. It is trans‐ mitted by female phlebotomine sandflies and presents itself as cutaneous, mucocutane‐ ous and visceral clinical forms, depending on the *Leishmania* species and the parasite‐host relationship. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by *Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi*, endemic in 12 countries of Latin America, with 90% of the cases reported in Brazil. VL is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia, being highly fatal with no treatment. The main strategy in limiting the expansion of VL, besides the treatment of human cases, is the control of the vector *Lutzomyia longipalpis* and its reservoirs. There are only few studies on the natural infection of *Leishmania* species, especially in relation to its endemic distribution. Epidemiological studies of leishmaniasis may indicate the infection rate of parasites in sandflies in order to assess the populations at risk and to direct public health control strategies. In this con‐ text, we aimed to review the main features of VL with regard the distribution of disease cases and natural infection rates of *Leishmania* in *Lu. longipalpis* in Latin America.

**Keywords:** visceral leishmaniasis, natural infection, *Lu. longipalpis*, phlebotomine, *Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi*
