Unit of Dermatology, Head and Neck Department, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 30;19(23):16047. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316047.
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.
皮肤利什曼病（TL）包括皮肤利什曼病（CL）和粘膜利什曼病（ML）；尽管它在南欧流行，但常常被漏诊和漏报。本研究旨在回顾性分析意大利东北部一个选定地区（艾米利亚-罗马涅地区，RER）收集的 TL 患者数据。在 RER 内建立了一个由 10 个诊断单位组成的网络，并评估了 2017 年至 2020 年期间在 RER 诊断的 TL 病例。共收集了 135 例 TL 病例（62%为男性，38%为女性）；患者年龄从 1 岁到 84 岁不等，中位数为 57 岁。在这些病例中，有 113 例（84%）向公共卫生当局报告。TL 的年平均发病率为每 100,000 居民 0.76 例。在 84%的病例中，感染是在 RER 内获得的；113 例本地病例分布在该地区的丘陵地区。我们提供了在意大利东北部一个选定地区 TL 病例的明确空间分布以及大量 ML 病例的证据。我们的观察结果表明，需要提高临床医生和病理学家对 TL 的认识，促进参考实验室对病例进行分子确认，并鼓励为这种被忽视的疾病建立监测网络。
