- A rare disease spread by the bite of sandflies could be on the rise in the US.
- Previously associated with traveling to tropical regions like India and Central America, cutaneous leishmaniasis appears to have a foothold in southern states.
- It is known to cause sores and lesions on the skin that can leave lifelong scars if untreated.
A tropical infection that causes skin lesions and disfiguring scars, once known as a “traveler’s disease,” could be right at home in the southern United States.
Sandflies are tiny, blood-sucking insects about the quarter of the size of a mosquito — so small that they can evade common prophylactics like mosquito nets and window screens. Also like mosquitoes, sandflies are
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is predominantly found in the tropics, India, and Central and South America. In the United States, it has garnered the moniker of a “traveler’s disease,” because those infected with it have been identified after returning from a region where it is more common.
But that could be changing. Data shows that infections are showing up in people in the US who indicated they had no travel history, meaning the disease is being spread endemically within the US — a worrisome new finding.
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The research has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
In the study, researchers examined over 2,100 tissue samples collected between 2005-2019 that were submitted to the CDC for presumptive testing for cutaneous leishmaniasis. The samples were collected from all fifty states, as well as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The disease was identified in more than 50% (1,222) of the submitted samples.
Curiously, researchers found that some of the samples were submitted from individuals who were identified as “non-travelers,” meaning they hadn’t left the country. In total, 86 samples were identified as coming from non-travelers.
“That’s not a surprise. I think there’s been some preliminary speculation about that in the past,” said Dr. Stanley Deresinksi, a Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases at Stanford University. Deresinski wasn’t affiliated with the research.
“All sorts of mammals can be the reservoir for these parasites, not just humans, but other animals. So, it’s not terribly surprising that that’s [going to] occur,” he told Healthline.
Researchers have also found more definitive evidence that these infections were truly endemic and acquired in the U.S.
First, they identified that the samples from non-travelers most often contained Leishmania mexicana, one of the many varieties of the parasite. Then, using DNA testing, researchers found two genotypes, unique genetic signatures, among the samples of Leishmania mexicana.
One of those genetic variations was found in 31% of all samples from non-travelers, but less than 2% from individuals who had traveled outside the country. The finding offers strong evidence that the specific Leishmania mexicana variation is endemic to the United States and spreading among the local population.
Texas appears to be the epicenter. Non-travelers infected with this variation were almost entirely (94%) from Texas.
“We saw that most samples from Texas have this genotype, which is a little different from those outside the US. So that was very interesting. Most of the cases from patients who never reported travel outside of the US had this genomic signature,” said Dr. Marcos de Almeida, PhD, the primary author of the study, and a research molecular biologist for the CDC.
Texas is currently the only state in the nation that requires
“This disease isn’t nationally reported. It’s not reported by any state with the exception of Texas. The clinicians in the United States think of it as a tropical disease or subtropical disease, not something you’d expect in somebody living in the United States. So people don’t necessarily think of it when they see these funny skin lesions,” Dr. Mary Kamb, MPH, with the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria at CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, told Healthline. Kamb also worked on the report.
But the disease is likely underreported, according to Deresinski.
“It’s obviously very uncommon,” he said. “Although I think most healthcare workers aren’t really aware of the disease. Globally, the WHO also warns that the
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common of the three forms of the disease leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis can also appear in
Mucosal leishmaniasis is less common and develops when the infection spreads to the membranes of the nose, mouth, or throat.
Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever, is the most deadly form of the disease. It is fatal in
No vaccines or drugs are currently available to prevent leishmaniasis. There are drug therapies that are used to treat the disease if an infection does occur.
Preventing sandfly bites is the only true preventative measure.
While the risk of leishmaniasis is still very low in the United States, cases do occur from time to time. If you’re in Texas or other southern states (the disease has also been
- Being aware if you are in a region that sandflies inhabit
- Keeping your skin covered with long clothing
- Using insect repellents on skin and clothing
- Ensuring that your house is properly sealed and screened from insects
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is spread through the bite of sandflies infected with the parasite Leishmania. The disease causes sores and lesions on the skin that can lead to lifelong scarring.
The disease is predominantly found in the tropics, India, and Central and South America.
New research from the CDC indicates that the disease may be present in parts of the southern United States.