V Gaspari1, M Ortalli2, M P Foschini3, C Baldovini3, A Lanzoni4, R Cagarelli5, P Gaibani6, G Rossini6, C Vocale6, R Tigani6, G A Gentilomi7, C Misciali1, S Pesci1, A Patrizi1, M P Landini2,8, S Varani2,6. 1. Unit of Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, St. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 2. Unit of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical and Neuro Motor Sciences, Anatomic Pathology "M.Malpighi" at Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 4. Unit of Dermatology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 5. Public Health Authority, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. 6. Unit of Microbiology, Regional Reference Center for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), St. Orsola Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy. 7. Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 8. Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a carattere scientifico, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human leishmaniasis is on increase in the Mediterranean Europe. However, the exact prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is largely unknown as underdiagnosis and under reporting are common. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate epidemiological, clinicopathological and microbiological aspects of CL cases occurring in the Bologna Province, north-eastern Italy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study on CL cases diagnosed in the Bologna Province between January 2013 and December 2015. RESULTS: During 2013-2015, 30 cases of CL were identified in the Bologna Province with an average incidence of 1.00/100 000, with an increase of fourfold to 12-fold as compared to previous years. 16 of 30 (53%) CL cases presented as single, typical lesions. CL diagnosis was carried out by histological and molecular techniques, although in 7 of 29 (24%) PCR-positive cases, amastigotes were not visible on histology. CONCLUSIONS: We report new evidence of CL cases in a focal area of north-eastern Italy in 2013-2015. Our study highlights the importance of CL surveillance in the Mediterranean basin and emphasizes the need for the molecular laboratory surveillance of CL in endemic areas.
BACKGROUND:Humanleishmaniasis is on increase in the Mediterranean Europe. However, the exact prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is largely unknown as underdiagnosis and under reporting are common. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate epidemiological, clinicopathological and microbiological aspects of CL cases occurring in the Bologna Province, north-eastern Italy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational study on CL cases diagnosed in the Bologna Province between January 2013 and December 2015. RESULTS: During 2013-2015, 30 cases of CL were identified in the Bologna Province with an average incidence of 1.00/100 000, with an increase of fourfold to 12-fold as compared to previous years. 16 of 30 (53%) CL cases presented as single, typical lesions. CL diagnosis was carried out by histological and molecular techniques, although in 7 of 29 (24%) PCR-positive cases, amastigotes were not visible on histology. CONCLUSIONS: We report new evidence of CL cases in a focal area of north-eastern Italy in 2013-2015. Our study highlights the importance of CL surveillance in the Mediterranean basin and emphasizes the need for the molecular laboratory surveillance of CL in endemic areas.
Authors: F Scasso; G Ferrari; G C DE Vincentiis; A Arosio; S Bottero; M Carretti; A Ciardo; S Cocuzza; A Colombo; B Conti; A Cordone; M DE Ciccio; E Delehaye; L Della Vecchia; I DE Macina; C Dentone; P DI Mauro; R Dorati; R Fazio; A Ferrari; G Ferrea; S Giannantonio; I Genta; M Giuliani; D Lucidi; L Maiolino; G Marini; P Marsella; D Meucci; T Modena; B Montemurri; A Odone; S Palma; M L Panatta; M Piemonte; P Pisani; S Pisani; L Prioglio; A Scorpecci; L Scotto DI Santillo; A Serra; C Signorelli; E Sitzia; M L Tropiano; M Trozzi; F M Tucci; L Vezzosi; B Viaggi Journal: Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital Date: 2018-04 Impact factor: 2.124