Cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Costa Rica (Short report)

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs in people exposed to wet, forested regions of Costa Rica. Although it is a reportable disease, there is no definitive information on prevalence of either present or past infection in rural communities. In 1987, we made a house-tohouse survey of 3 different rural communities where leishinsniasis is endemic. In contrast to previous studies based on selected hospital or clinic patients, we examined a sample of families in each community. Each consenting subject received an interview, physical examination, and a skin test (the leishmanin or Montenegro intradermal reaction).