What is the Difference Between Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis

The key difference between cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is that cutaneous leishmaniasis is a type of leishmaniasis that causes lesions or ulcers to form on the skin of exposed parts of the body, while mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a type of leishmaniasis that causes lesions or ulcers to form on mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat.

Leishmaniasis is a very destructive parasitic disease that is caused by a protozoa parasite called Leishmania species. The disease is transmitted to humans through sandfly species, which are known to transmit Leishmania parasites. There are 3 main types of leishmaniasis: visceral leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
3. What is Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
4. Similarities – Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
5. Cutaneous vs Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cutaneous vs Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis

What is Cutaneous Leishmaniasis?

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis affecting humans. It is mainly a skin infection. In this form of cutaneous leishmaniasis, lesions or ulcers form on the skin of exposed parts of the body. The signs and symptoms of this form of leishmaniasis may include hypopigmented skin lesions such as macules, papules, nodules, facial redness, and plaques that ulcerate. Cutaneous leishmaniasis can leave life-long scars.

About 95% of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases are usually observed in America, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Moreover, approximately 600,000 to 1 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis occur worldwide annually. However, only around 200,000 cases are reported. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by species such as Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica, and Leishmania infantum.

Moreover, cutaneous leishmaniasis is diagnosed through physical examination, microscopy (histology), immunodiagnosis of parasite antigen, and detection of parasite DNA in tissue by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, cutaneous leishmaniasis is treated through sodium stibogluconate alone or in combination with rifampicin for a course of up to 4 months.

What is Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis?

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a less common form of leishmaniasis. This type of leishmaniasis causes lesions or ulcers to form on mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat. Sometimes, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is referred to as a disturbing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis because it produces destructive and disfiguring lesions on the mucous membranes of the face. This form is often caused by Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania aethiopica. Moreover, over 90 % of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis cases usually occur in Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Peru.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is diagnosed through physical examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the genetic material. Furthermore, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is treated through sodium stibogluconate, a combination of pentoxifylline (inhibitor of TNF-α) and a pentavalent antimonial or imiquimod for a long course of 12 months.

What are the Similarities Between Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis?

• Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis are two different types of leishmaniasis.
• Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is referred to as a disturbing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
• Both types are caused by Leishmania
• They are transferred to humans by sandflies.
• Both types cause lesions to form in different parts of the body.
• Both types can be diagnosed through physical examination and PCR of genetic material.
• They are treated through antiparasitic drugs.

What is the Difference Between Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis?

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a type of leishmaniasis that causes lesions or ulcers to form on the skin of exposed parts of the body, while mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a type of leishmaniasis that causes lesions or ulcers to form on mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat. Thus, this is the key difference between cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Furthermore, cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis, while mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a less common form.

The below infographic presents the differences between cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Cutaneous vs Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease usually found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. It is caused by infections with Leishmania parasites that are normally spread to humans by the bite of phlebotomine sand fly. There are three types of leishmaniasis: visceral leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis causes lesions to form on the skin of exposed body parts, while mucocutaneous leishmaniasis causes lesions to form on the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat. So, this is the key difference between cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

Reference:

1. “Symptoms, Transmission, and Current Treatments for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Dndi.” Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).
2. Palumbo, Emilio. “Treatment Strategies for Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis.” Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, May 2010.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cutaneous Leishmaniasis” By Abanima at the Arabic language Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Leishmaniasis Life Cycle (5102875128)” By NIAID – Leishmaniasis Life Cycle (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia