Clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis associated with HIV infection: a retrospective study of 91 French cases

[Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Germany-still a travel-related disease]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by several Leishmania species. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of the infected female phlebotomus sandfly. Today, more than 1 billion people in leishmaniasis endemic areas are at risk of infection. More than 1.5 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis occur every year. On the basis of two cases, we show that cutaneous leishmaniasis is still an imported tropical disease in Germany. However, due to the increasing intercontinental travel, cases may increase. Therefore, cutaneous leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with nonhealing wounds, ulcers, papules or nodules and the corresponding travel history.

Asymptomatic carriers of Leishmania infantum in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Morocco

In Morocco, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum. L. infantum is transmitted by the bite of female phlebotomine sandflies, and its main reservoir hosts are domestic dogs. Asymptomatic infection with L. infantum is more frequent than clinically apparent disease. In HIV-infected patients, the risk of clinical VL is increased due to immunosuppression that may reactivate latent infections. However, coinfected subjects do not necessarily develop VL and may remain as asymptomatic carriers depending on their immune status. The present study investigates the asymptomatic carriers of L. infantum in HIV-infected patients in central Morocco, where human cases of visceral leishmaniasis by L. infantum have been reported. A total of 200 HIV-infected patients attending the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Ibn Zohar Hospital of Marrakech participated in the study. Parasitological and serological blood analyses included a direct microscopic examination (DME), culture in Novy-McNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium, and serology by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI). We found prevalence rates of 5% (10/200) by IFI, 3% (6/200) by DME, and 2.5% (5/200) by culture. The parasite was identified as L. infantum by PCR from positive cultures.

Leishmania-HIV co-infection: clinical presentation and outcomes in an urban area in Brazil

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an emerging condition affecting HIV-infected patients living in Latin America, particularly in Brazil. Leishmania-HIV coinfection represents a challenging diagnosis because the clinical picture of VL is similar to that of other disseminated opportunistic diseases. Additionally, coinfection is related to treatment failure, relapse and high mortality.

Objective

To assess the clinical-laboratory profile and outcomes of VL-HIV-coinfected patients using a group of non HIV-infected patients diagnosed with VL during the same period as a comparator.

Methods

The study was conducted at a reference center for infectious diseases in Brazil. All patients with suspected VL were evaluated in an ongoing cohort study. Confirmed cases were divided into two groups: with and without HIV coinfection. Patients were treated according to the current guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Brazil, which considers antimony as the first-choice therapy for non HIV-infected patients and recommends amphotericin B for HIV-infected patients. After treatment, all patients with CD4 counts below 350 cells/mm³ received secondary prophylaxis with amphotericin B.

Results

Between 2011 and 2013, 168 patients with suspected VL were evaluated, of whom 90 were confirmed to have VL. In total, 51% were HIV coinfected patients (46 patients). HIV-infected patients had a lower rate of fever and splenomegaly compared with immunocompetent patients. The VL relapse rate in 6 months was 37% among HIV-infected patients, despite receiving secondary prophylaxis. The overall case-fatality rate was 6.6% (4 deaths in the HIV-infected group versus 2 deaths in the non HIV-infected group). The main risk factors for a poor outcome at 6 months after the end of treatment were HIV infection, bleeding and a previous VL episode.

Conclusion

Although VL mortality rates among HIV-infected individuals are close to those observed among immunocompetent patients treated with amphotericin B, HIV coinfection is related to a low clinical response and high relapse rates within 6 months.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is of a higher clinical importance as an opportunistic infection in individuals infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus type-1) in areas where both infections are endemic. Co-infected patients classically present a chronic clinical course, with high rates of treatment failure and relapse. Differences in the clinical presentation of VL between HIV-infected and uninfected patients and the factors related to an unfavorable outcome remain rarely studied. In this work, the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with VL were compared according to HIV infection status, and the main determinants of a poor outcome at 6 months were identified.

Visceral leishmaniasis with pericarditis in an HIV-infected patient

The clinical presentation of visceral leishmaniasis, or kala-azar, is variable but usually includes fever, severe cachexia, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. In immunocompromised patients the clinical course of the disease is even less specific and the diagnosis is often made by means of incidental detection of the parasites at atypical sites such as the gastrointestinal tract, peripheral blood, lungs and cerebrospinal fluid. We describe a case of pericardial leishmaniasis in an HIV-infected patient.

Leishmaniasis: recognition and management with a focus on the immunocompromised patient

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease whose clinical manifestations depend both on the infecting species of Leishmania and the immune response of the host. Transmission of the disease occurs by the bite of a sandfly infected with Leishmania parasites. Infection may be restricted to the skin in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), to the mucous membranes in mucosal leishmaniasis or spread internally in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In the last 2 decades, leishmaniasis, especially VL, has been recognized as an opportunistic disease in immunocompromised patients, particularly those infected with HIV. Leishmaniasis is characterized by a spectrum of disease phenotypes that correspond to the strength of the host's cell-mediated immune response. Both susceptible and resistant phenotypes exist within human populations. Clinical cutaneous disease ranges from a few spontaneously-healing lesions, to diffuse external or internal disease, to severe mucous membrane involvement. Spontaneously-healing lesions are associated with positive antigen-specific T cell responsiveness, diffuse cutaneous and visceral disease with T cell non-responsiveness, and mucocutaneous disease with T cell hyperresponsiveness. Current research is focused on determining the extent to which this spectrum of host response is genetically determined. In endemic areas, diagnosis is often made on clinical grounds alone including: small number of lesions; on exposed areas; present for a number of months; resistant to all types of attempted treatments; and usually no pain or itching. Multiple diagnostic techniques are available. When evaluating treatment, the natural history of leishmaniasis must be considered. Lesions of CL heal spontaneously over 1 month to 3 years, while lesions of mucocutaneous and VL rarely, if ever, heal without treatment. Consequently, all the latter patients require treatment. Therapy is not always essential in localized CL, although the majority of such patients are treated. Patients with lesions on the face or other cosmetically important areas are treated to reduce the size of the resultant scar. In addition, the species of parasite should be identified so that infection with Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania panamensis can be treated to reduce the risk of development of mucocutaneous disease. Treating patients with Leishmania and HIV co-infection requires close monitoring for effectiveness of treatment, especially because of the high relapse rates. Proven treatments include: antimonials, pentamidine, amphotericin B, interferon with antimony. Treatments where current clinical experience is too limited include: allopurinol, ketoconazole, itraconazole, immunotherapy, rifampin, dapsone, localized heat, paromomycin ointment and cryotherapy. Investigational treatments include: WR6026, liposomal amphotericin and miltefosine. In addition, vaccines for leishmaniasis are being investigated in clinical trials.

Leishmaniasis as an emerging infection

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease whose diverse clinical manifestations are dependent both on the infecting species of Leishmania and the immune response of the host. Transmission of the disease occurs by the bite of a sand fly infected with Leishmania parasites. Infection may be restricted to the skin in cutaneous leishmaniasis, limited to the mucous membranes in mucosal leishmaniasis, or spread internally in visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar. The overall prevalence of leishmaniasis is 12 million cases worldwide, and the global yearly incidence of all clinical forms approaches 2 million new cases (World Health Organization WHO/ LEISH/200.42, Leishmania/HIV Co-Infection in Southwestern Europe 1990-98: Retrospective Analysis of 965 Cases, 2000). In the last two decades, leishmaniasis, especially visceral leishmaniasis, has been recognized as an opportunistic disease in the immunocompromised, particularly in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Preparation of the HIV-infected Traveler to the Tropics

Pre-travel advice and planning can help the HIV-infected traveler minimize the unavoidable risks of tropical travel. Issues to cover: the diagnosis, staging, and stabilization of HIV infection and its sequelae; adequacy of the supply of medications currently used; optimal sources of medical care in planned destinations; potential HIV-related legal restrictions on travel; special risks associated with the medical geography of the traveler's route and planned activities; the need to avoid food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases; any appropriate vaccination, chemoprophylaxis, and antimicrobial agents; and arrangement for adequate medical follow-up upon the traveler's return.