[Geographic distribution of Leishmania species isolated from patients at the National Institute of Dermatology Federico Lleras Acosta E.S.E., 1995-2005].

INTRODUCTION: The Colombian distribution map of Leishmania species has not been updated since seven years ago.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the distribution of Leishmania species isolated from patients attended at the National Institute of Dermatology during the period 1995 to 2005.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive study of the geographic distribution of Leishmania species was made from 137 isolates obtained from patients consulting the National Institute of Dermatology "Federico Lleras Acosta E.S.E", with confirmed diagnosis of leishmaniasis. The clinical history was reviewed to obtain information on the clinical presentation, most probable place of infection, age and gender. Samples were taken and cultured and the isolates were typed by monoclonal antibodies, comparing 10% of the results with those obtained by PCR and isoenzymatic patterns.
RESULTS: L. panamensis accounted for 74.45% of the 137 isolates studied, L. braziliensis for 15.33%, L. guyanensis for 0.73%; L. mexicana complex for 3.65%, L. mexicana 5.11% and the remaining 0.73% corresponded to an isolate which could not be characterized by monoclonal antibodies. The distribution of L. braziliensis, L. panamensis and L. guyanensis was similar to that reported in previous studies but species of the L. mexicana complex, were found in patients from the departments of Caldas, Santander, Cundinamarca, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca and Valle del Cauca, where they had not been previously reported.
CONCLUSION: Species of the L. mexicana complex display a wider distribution than previously reported. The usefulness of species-specific monoclonal antibodies, isoenzymatic patterns, and PCR for identification of L. mexicana and L. amazonensis was limited.