Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Italy from 2017 to 2020: A Neglected Public Health Issue

Valeria Gaspari, Tommaso Gritti, Margherita Ortalli, Annalisa Santi, Giorgio Galletti, Arianna Rossi, Gianluca Rugna, Andrea Mattivi, Giulio Matteo, Gian L. Belloli, Giovanna Mattei, Stefania Varani () and on behalf of the Skin_Leish_RER Network
Additional contact information
Valeria Gaspari: Unit of Dermatology, Head and Neck Department, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Tommaso Gritti: Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Margherita Ortalli: Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Annalisa Santi: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Giorgio Galletti: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Arianna Rossi: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Gianluca Rugna: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Andrea Mattivi: Regional Health Authority, Emilia-Romagna Region, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Giulio Matteo: Regional Health Authority, Emilia-Romagna Region, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Gian L. Belloli: Regional Health Authority, Emilia-Romagna Region, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Giovanna Mattei: Regional Health Authority, Emilia-Romagna Region, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Stefania Varani: Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
on behalf of the Skin_Leish_RER Network: Skin_Leish_RER Network are listed in acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) includes cutaneous (CL) and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis; despite being endemic in southern Europe, it is often underdiagnosed and underreported. This study aimed to retrospectively examine data collected from patients with TL in a selected area of northeastern Italy (Emilia-Romagna region, RER). A network of 10 diagnostic units within RER was established, and TL cases diagnosed in RER from 2017 to 2020 were evaluated. A total of 135 TL cases were collected (62% male, 38% female); patients ranged from 1 to 84 years, with a median age of 57. Among these cases, 113 (84%) were notified to the public health authorities. The average annual incidence of TL was 0.76 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Infections were acquired within the RER in 84% of cases; the 113 autochthonous cases were distributed in the foothills areas of the region. We provide evidence of a defined spatial distribution of TL cases in a selected area of northeastern Italy, as well as a relevant number of ML cases. Our observations suggest the need to raise awareness about TL among clinicians and pathologists, promote the molecular confirmation of cases by reference laboratories, and encourage the establishment of surveillance networks for this neglected disease.

Keywords: Leishmania infantum; tegumentary leishmaniasis; cutaneous leishmaniasis; mucosal leishmaniasis; autochthonous cases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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