sandfly infection

 

I ran across two articles on Leishmaniasis, 

  this article is about the spread of leishmaniasis. 

The cutaneous form is coming in with migrants from South America. 

But another form is a problem: visceral leishmaniasis, which is found in the Middle East. Another potentially life-threatening form of the disease, visceral leishmaniasis, affects the spleen, liver and bone marrow

the soldiers serving in the Middle East are at risk, AMEDD PDF on the disease

and a new study suggests this form may be gaining a foothold in U.S., not from the soldiers but from the dogs are rescued from Turkey by animal lovers and then placed in other countries. The dogs carry the disease, and local sandflies bit the dogs and then spread the disease to humans.

my notes on the disease are on my medical blog.

most of the cutaneous ulcers heal themselves but the more serious infections can be treated with anti fungal medicines: depending on the strain since some strains are resistant. I also investigate the vaccine problem... a good review article found here... 

update: