TY - JOUR
T1 - Endemic pemphigus foliaceus (Fogo selvagem)
T2 - II. Current and historic epidemiologic studies
AU - Diaz, Luis A.
AU - Sampaio, Sebastiao A.P.
AU - Rivitti, Evandro A.
AU - Martins, Ciro R.
AU - Cunha, Paulo R.
AU - Lombardi, Clovis
AU - Almeida, Fernando A.
AU - Castro, Raymundo Martins
AU - Macca, Mario L.
AU - Lavrado, Carlos
AU - Filho, Gunther H.
AU - Borges, Paulo
AU - Chaul, Aicar
AU - Minelli, Lorivaldo
AU - Empinotti, Julio C.
AU - Friedman, Horacio
AU - Campbell, Iphis
AU - Labib, Ramzy S.
AU - Anhalt, Grant J.
PY - 1989/1
Y1 - 1989/1
N2 - This paper details current and historic epidemiologic features of Fogo Selvagem (Endemic pemphigus foliaceus) in Brazil. The following features are described. a) The disease occurs in endemic fashion in regions of Brazil within the states of Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Sao Paulo, and Minas Gerais. It appears that the disease is spreading toward the northwest and west, involving the states of Mato Grosso, Para, Maranhao, Rondonia, Acre, and Amazonas. b) People at risk are young peasants or children of either sex or any race exposed to the local ecology in rural areas of endemic states. Although the disease has been described in urban centers, these occurrences are rare. c) Fogo Selvagem commonly appears in wild areas being colonized and disappears as these areas become urbanized. d) The majority of patients live in close proximity to rivers and within the 10-15 Km flying range of mosquitos or black flies (such as Simulium). It is hypothesized that a black fly, Simulium pruinosum may be the vector that precipitates the disease. f) There is a significant number of Fogo Selvagem in family units where multiple, genetically related individuals are affected. g) Finally, autoantibodies against lupus-associated antigens are not present in the sera of patients with Fogo Selvagem. Clinical examination of the skin, and serologic screening for pemphigus autoantibodies are specific parameters that can be used in the search for the etiologic agents that lead to autoimmune disease of the skin. To identify and prove an etiologic agent for this well-characterized autoimmune disease would be of tremendous importance to the understanding of autoimmune skin diseases, and potentially other organ-specific autoimmune disorders.
AB - This paper details current and historic epidemiologic features of Fogo Selvagem (Endemic pemphigus foliaceus) in Brazil. The following features are described. a) The disease occurs in endemic fashion in regions of Brazil within the states of Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Sao Paulo, and Minas Gerais. It appears that the disease is spreading toward the northwest and west, involving the states of Mato Grosso, Para, Maranhao, Rondonia, Acre, and Amazonas. b) People at risk are young peasants or children of either sex or any race exposed to the local ecology in rural areas of endemic states. Although the disease has been described in urban centers, these occurrences are rare. c) Fogo Selvagem commonly appears in wild areas being colonized and disappears as these areas become urbanized. d) The majority of patients live in close proximity to rivers and within the 10-15 Km flying range of mosquitos or black flies (such as Simulium). It is hypothesized that a black fly, Simulium pruinosum may be the vector that precipitates the disease. f) There is a significant number of Fogo Selvagem in family units where multiple, genetically related individuals are affected. g) Finally, autoantibodies against lupus-associated antigens are not present in the sera of patients with Fogo Selvagem. Clinical examination of the skin, and serologic screening for pemphigus autoantibodies are specific parameters that can be used in the search for the etiologic agents that lead to autoimmune disease of the skin. To identify and prove an etiologic agent for this well-characterized autoimmune disease would be of tremendous importance to the understanding of autoimmune skin diseases, and potentially other organ-specific autoimmune disorders.
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U2 - 10.1111/1523-1747.ep13070394
DO - 10.1111/1523-1747.ep13070394
M3 - Article
C2 - 2642512
AN - SCOPUS:0024597627
SN - 0022-202X
VL - 92
SP - 4
EP - 12
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 1
ER -