Controlling phlebotomine sand flies to prevent canine Leishmania infantum infection: A case of knowing your enemy.

Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is a widespread zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to animals and humans by their vectors, blood-sucking phlebotomine sand flies. To prevent canine leishmaniosis across the whole Mediterranean region, vector control is essential. Because of phlebotomine breeding sites are diverse, environmental larval controls have limited practical value. Control methods of adults are being evaluated, such as selective baits based on sugar feeding of males and females or Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB), and the indoor use of Long-Lasting-Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) treated with permethrin to prevent sand fly bites complementing the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) approach suggested by WHO. Although several strategies exist, the best control measure to prevent canine Leishmania infantum is to treat dogs using biocidal topical formulations based on legal insecticides (PTs18) or repellents (PTs19) (as collars, spot-ons and/or sprays) during the period when the vectors are active. This means we need to really know the biology and life cycle of the sand fly vector. According to available data, by mapping ambient temperatures we can already predict high risk areas where vector densities will be higher. In ongoing research, new candidates are emerging to fight against sand flies including natural plant extracts with low impacts on the environment and host animal. Other options in the future could be systemic insecticides to help reduce sand fly populations in high density areas. In parallel, health authorities and professionals involved in animal and public health (veterinarians, physicians, entomologists and epidemiologists) must work together in a One Health approach to minimize Leishmania infection. Veterinarians play a crucial role in liaising between key stake holders and dog owners to ensure the latter act responsibly in using repellents as a preventive measure against sand fly bites.

Caracterización de pacientes pediátricos usuarios de fototerapia en el Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile (2007-2015) / Characterization of pediatrics patients users of phototherapy in dermatology service, Hospital Clínico Universidad Chile (2007-2015)

Phototherapy is the use of specific wavelenghts of light that have shown effectiveness in the treatment of several cutaneous diseases. Current indications for phototherapy in Dermatology include multiple pathologies and it is considered to be costeffective. Literature about its use in children is rare, there are no studies on phototherapy in Chilean children. Patients and methods: Observational, descriptive, retrospective study. Clinical records of pediatric patients treated with phototherapy at University of Chile Clinical Hospital between 2007 and 2015, were studied. For each patient, the following parameters were analyzed: age of starting treatment, sex, skin phenotype, diagnosis, prescribed phototherapy and weekly frecuency. Results: 146 patients, 85 girls and 51 boys, average age 11.7 +/- 4.0 years. Predominant skin phenotype, was Fitzpatrick type III. Vitiligo was identified as the most common indication for phototherapy (52,2 percent), followed by psoriasis (22,6 percent). By a large margin, the most used type of phototherapy was nb UVB (96.6 percent). Most of the patients were treated twice per week (69.2 percent). Discussion: The obtained results in this group are similar to those results described in the international literature. Further studies are required for a better knowledge about efficacy and possible long-term effects of phototherapy on Chilean children.