An American cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak, with cases clustering during in Tartagal city , Salta, was reported. The outbreak involved individuals, Age mean: 33 years old and sex distribution of cases Moreover, during July, sandflies were only collected from one of the 'deforestation areas'.
Lutzomyia intermedia was the single species of the phlebotomines captured, reinforcing the vector incrimination of this species. Most infections must have been acquired during the fall April to June , a pattern consistent with previous sandfly population dynamics data.
Based on the epidemiological and entomological results, it was advised not to do any vector-targeted periurban control measures during July. Further studies should be done to assess if the high rate of multiple lesions was due to parasite factors or to infective vector density factors. Keywords: Leishmaniasis; Lutzomyia intermedia ; Argentina. Human leishmaniasis cases are estimated to be around 12 million worldwide from 88 countries, with 2,, estimated new cases every year. However , only , are officially reported 6,21, American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis has been endemic in the northern provinces of Argentina , with human cases known since 10, Reporting of leishmaniasis is mandatory Law , and the national records up to the 80's indicated that the average number of cases usually ranged from 40 to 90 per year, distributed in nine provinces 2,3.
The disease was usually diagnosed in isolated cases, mostly adult males employed in forest-related work. However, an outbreak due to Leishmania Viannia braziliensis took place in the province of Salta, Argentina, from to , involving periurban areas, with similar incidence in males and females as well as within the youngest 15,16, The annual incidence rose from 6.
Tartagal, one of the most affected areas during the outbreak, is the third city in importance of the province of Salta with 51, inhabitants. Therefore, the 'urban' leishmaniasis transmission hypothesis rose from different areas related to the health system.
