Abstract

HERRER, Arístides. La Leishmaniasis Tegumentaria en el Alto Tambopata, Departamento de Puno, Perú. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 1999, vol.16, n.1-2, pp.15-24. ISSN 1726-4634.

Ecological and epidemiological studies performed in the highlands of the Tambopata Valley (High Tambopata) during 1975, about "espundia" or tegumentary Leishmaniasis are hereby described, hoping that the findings of this research could be useful to guide preventive actions against "espundia". The intradermical inoculation of the leishmanina antigen, Montenegro reaction was used in 556 humans, and 116 positive cases were found. The intensity of the reaction was related to the sites where the Montenegro reaction was performed. Leishmania infection was sought in jungle mammals that were captured, as well as in domestic mammals living in the area; of these, three dogs, one mule and one donkey had cutaneous injuries, resembling those of tegumentary leishmaniasis in human beings. In four out of eight cultures from human cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis performed, the ethiological agent of "espundia" was isolated. As a result of entomological studies, 868 specimens of "titiras" were captured, corresponding to nine species of the Genus Lutzomyia; the findings point out that 79.8% of the insects were L. auraensis and 12% L. migoni. The occurrence of metastasic injuries in the oral, nasal and pharingeal mucosae, as well as the presence of positive Montenegro reaction, without evidence of any past or present Leishmaniasis infection in Alto Tambopata shows that "espundia" does not differ from the disease that occurs in other South American countries where "espundia" is endemic.

Keywords : Leishmaniasis; mucocutaneous; Peru.

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