Magnitude of visceral leishmaniasis and poor treatment outcome among HIV patients: meta-analysis and systematic review

An update on Leishmania martiniquensis infections: Transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment

Leishmaniasis, caused by intracellular protozoa of the Leishmania genus, continues to be a global health issue, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually worldwide. The disease is transmitted via the bite of infected female sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus, resulting in a range of symptoms known as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. The species Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis, discovered in 1995, has been linked to cases in individuals with HIV, presenting with diverse clinical pictures. Interestingly, biting midges, not sandflies, has proved to serve as its potentially biological vector. This study focuses on understanding the transmission, clinical aspects, and effective treatment of L. martiniquensis infections. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant published papers on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical characteristics, and treatment of L. martiniquensis up to August 2024. The clinical manifestations encompass localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is associated with comorbidities such as inadequate nutrition, population displacement, and reduced immunity. Risk factors for Leishmania infection include the presence of domestic animals, age, gender, and environmental factors. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB) is the main treatment. Combination therapy with allicin and andrographolide may reduce AmB side effects. Recent research investigates other treatments including 8-hydroxyquinoline, which works synergistically with AmB against L. martiniquensis.

Time to death and its determinant factors of visceral leishmaniasis with HIV co-infected patients during treatment period admitted at Metema hospital, Metema, Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study design

BACKGROUND

Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the parasites Leishmania donovani spices complex that can spread to internal organs and the disease is fatal with a fatality rate of nearly 100% if left untreated. Visceral Leishmania-HIV (HIV1) coinfection disease is a new clinical form of leishmaniasis very serious disease in the endemic part of the world. It also served as the primary cause of death in the lowlands of Ethiopia with the endemic Humara and Metema that are located near the Sudanese border.

METHODS

A total of 153 visceral leishmaniases with HIV co-infection secondary data was taken from the medical chart of patients from January 2015 to January 2021 and a hospital-based cross-sectional study design was carried out to retrieve relevant information. The data entered by SPSS and analysed using STATA version 14 and R4.2.1 statistical software packages using a non-parametric Model, semi-parametric Cox proportional hazard survival models at 5% significance level.

RESULT

Among the total visceral leishmaniasis with HIV co-infected patients 3.27% were females and 96.73% were males, 19 (12.42%) patients died and 134(87.58%) patients were censored. The Cox proportional hazard model result indicates that severe acute malnutrition, baseline CD4+ cell count ≥100, and underweight significantly contributed to the survival time of a patient. Cox proportional hazard model shows that severe acute malnutrition (HR=4.40027, 95% CI= 2.455061 262.7934, P-value=0.007), baseline CD4+cell count ≥100 (HR=0.2714623, 95% CI= 0.0764089 0.9644395, P-value=0.044), and Underweight (HR=4.678169, 95% CI= 1.970097 11.10872, P-value=0.040) significantly contributed to a shorter survival time.

CONCLUSION

Visceral leishmaniases with HIV co-infected patients show a large number of deaths occurred in the earlier days of treatment this implies that Visceral leishmaniasis accelerates HIV replication and disease progression death. The researcher suggests that people be aware of the burden posed by those risk factors and knowledgeable about the diseases. So, the researcher recommended that to health workers implement primary health care in those patients and careful consideration of a neglected parasitic disease.

Burden of neglected tropical diseases and access to medicine and diagnostics in Ethiopia: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

More than 1.7 billion people are affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) worldwide. Forty percent of the NTD-affected people live in Africa with the poorest, most vulnerable, and hard to reach geographical areas. The NTDs cause significant social and economic burden and deepen marginalization and stigmatization. The World Health Organization's current roadmap for NTD aims to prevent, control, eliminate, or eradicate 20 tropical diseases. Ethiopia experiences a high burden of these diseases, but current access to diagnostics, medicine, and/or care has been little explored to inform the country's NTD strategic plan. The overall purpose of the scoping review was to map and characterize the burden of NTDs and challenges in access to diagnostics, medicine, and/or care in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A systematic search of evidence was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from January 2000 until May 2022, without restrictions of language or study design. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review was followed for screening of studies. Key findings were extracted and narrated qualitatively.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 4532 articles, of which 105 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review under three themes: burden of NTDs, access to diagnostics, medicine and/or care, and key barriers. Although gains have been made in the prevention and control of NTDs in Ethiopia, the burden remains high, and progress in access to diagnostics, medicine/drugs, and/or care is very slow. Poverty, poor quality of life, and underfunding of NTD programs decelerate the process of NTD elimination program in the country.

CONCLUSIONS

The scoping review identified a considerable number of studies on the burden of NTDs in Ethiopia and strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and/or care; however, there is a paucity of evidence on the suitability and potential benefits of novel diagnostic technologies and medicines in the country. A regular review and analysis of such country-level evidence is important to inform the country NTDs roadmap and local implementation strategies.

Inequalities of visceral leishmaniasis case-fatality in Brazil: A multilevel modeling considering space, time, individual and contextual factors

Background

In Brazil, case-fatality from visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is high and characterized by wide differences between the various political-economic units, the federated units (FUs). This study was designed to investigate the association between factors at the both FU and individual levels with the risk of dying from VL, after analysing the temporal trend and the spatial dependency for VL case-fatality.

Methodology

The analysis was based on individual and aggregated data of the Reportable Disease Information System-SINAN (Brazilian Ministry of Health). The temporal and spatial distributions of the VL case-fatality between 2007 and 2017 (27 FUs as unit of analysis) were considered together with the individual characteristics and many other variables at the FU level (socioeconomic, demographic, access to health and epidemiological indicators) in a mixed effects models or multilevel modeling, assuming a binomial outcome distribution (death from VL).

Findings

A linear increasing temporal tendency (4%/year) for VL case-fatality was observed between 2007 and 2017. There was no similarity between the case-fatality rates of neighboring FUs (non-significant spatial term), although these rates were heterogeneous in this spatial scale of analysis. In addition to the known individual risk factors age, female gender, disease’s severity, bacterial co-infection and disease duration, low level schooling and unavailability of emergency beds and health professionals (the last two only in univariate analysis) were identified as possibly related to VL death risk. Lower VL incidence was also associated to VL case-fatality, suggesting that unfamiliarity with the disease may delay appropriate medical management: VL patients with fatal outcome were notified and had VL treatment started 6 and 3 days later, respectively, in relation to VL cured patients. Access to garbage collection, marker of social and economic development, seems to be protective against the risk of dying from VL. Part of the observed VL case-fatality variability in Brazil could not be explained by the studied variables, suggesting that factors linked to the intra FU environment may be involved.

Conclusions

This study aimed to identify epidemiological conditions and others related to access to the health system possibly linked to VL case-fatality, pointing out new prognostic determinants subject to intervention.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal disease if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The VL case-fatality in Brazil is the highest rate in the world, reaching an average of 7% and in some regions, more than 15%. In the last years, some improvements in the VL approach have been reached in Brazil, such as the widespread use of rapid diagnostic tests and liposomal amphotericin B for treatment of selected high risk of death cases. Despite these interventions, increase in case-fatality rates were observed. In this study we explored the factors related to the case-fatality from VL using a mixed modeling that encompasses different intervening factors such as time/spatial trends and factors linked to the individual and socio-economic indicators. For the first time, factors unrelated to the patients’ clinical condition emerge as possibly related to VL case-fatality, such as low educational level, unavailability of emergency beds and health professionals, suggesting the harmful influence of conditions of limited access to health services. In addition to these significant effects observed in the spatial scale of analysis, this study points to the influence of contextual factors linked to each geopolitical unit. The determinants of death among VL cases may differ according to the region, which requires specific actions planned locally, including increased access to health system qualified to recognize and properly treat VL.

Diversity and Within-Host Evolution of Leishmania donovani from Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients with and without HIV Coinfection in Northern Ethiopia

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal disease and a growing public health problem in East Africa, where Ethiopia has one of the highest VL burdens. The largest focus of VL in Ethiopia is driven by high prevalence in migrant agricultural workers and associated with a high rate of coinfection with HIV. This coinfection makes VL more difficult to treat successfully and is associated with a high rate of relapse, with VL/HIV patients frequently experiencing many relapses of VL before succumbing to this infection. We present genome-wide data on Leishmania donovani isolates from a longitudinal study of cohorts of VL and VL/HIV patients reporting to a single clinic in Ethiopia. Extensive clinical data allow us to investigate the influence of coinfection and relapse on the populations of parasites infecting these patients. We find that the same parasite population is responsible for both VL and VL/HIV infections and that, in most cases, disease relapse is caused by recrudescence of the population of parasites that caused primary VL. Complex, multiclonal infections are present in both primary and relapse cases, but the infrapopulation of parasites within a patient loses genetic diversity between primary disease presentation and subsequent relapses, presumably due to a population bottleneck induced by treatment. These data suggest that VL/HIV relapses are not caused by genetically distinct parasite infections or by reinfection. Treatment of VL does not lead to sterile cure, and in VL/HIV, the infecting parasites are able to reestablish after clinically successful treatment, leading to repeated relapse of VL. IMPORTANCE Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the second largest cause of deaths due to parasite infections and a growing problem in East Africa. In Ethiopia, it is particularly associated with migrant workers moving from regions of nonendemicity for seasonal agricultural work and is frequently found as a coinfection with HIV, which leads to frequent VL relapse following treatment. Insight into the process of relapse in these patients is thus key to controlling the VL epidemic in Ethiopia. We show that there is little genetic differentiation between the parasites infecting HIV-positive and HIV-negative VL patients. Moreover, we provide evidence that relapses are caused by the initially infecting parasite population and that treatment induces a loss of genetic diversity in this population. We propose that restoring functioning immunity and improving antiparasitic treatment may be key in breaking the cycle of relapsing VL in VL/HIV patients.

Space-time risk cluster of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian endemic region with high social vulnerability: An ecological time series study

BACKGROUND

Despite visceral leishmaniasis (VL) being epidemic in most Brazilian regions, the Northeast region is responsible for the highest morbidity and mortality outcomes within the country.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of VL cases to identify the temporal trends and high-risk areas for VL transmission, as well as the association of the disease with social vulnerability in Brazilian Northeast.

METHODS

We carried out an ecological time series study employing spatial analysis techniques using all VL confirmed cases of 1,794 municipalities of Brazilian Northeast between the years 2000 to 2017. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was used to represent the social vulnerability. Incidence rates were standardized and smoothed by the Local Empirical Bayesian Method. Time trends were examined through segmented linear regression. Spatiotemporal analysis consisted of uni- and bivariate Global and Local Moran indexes and space-time scan statistics.

RESULTS

Incidence rate remained stable and ranged from 4.84 to 3.52 cases/100,000 inhabitants. There was higher case prevalence between males (62.71%), children and adolescents (63.27%), non-white (69.75%) and urban residents (62.58%). Increasing trends of new cases were observed among adult male subjects (≥ 40 years old) and urban residents. Importantly, VL incidence showed a direct spatial dependence. Spatial and space-time clusters were identified in sertão and meio-norte sub-regions, overlapping with high social vulnerability areas.

CONCLUSIONS

VL is a persistent health issue in Brazilian Northeast and associated with social vulnerability. Space-time clustering of VL cases in socially vulnerable municipalities demands intersectoral public policies of surveillance and control, with focus on reducing inequalities and improving living conditions for regional inhabitants.

Incidence of Mortality and Its Predictors Among Adult Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients at the University of Gondar Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease, affecting the poor and productive age group of a country, resulting in a huge impact on its economic development. Even though anti-leishmanial drugs reduce the incidence of mortality among VL patients, there is still death of these patients while on treatment. In this aspect, there are limited studies in Ethiopia; therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence of mortality and its predictors among adult VL patients at the University of Gondar Hospital.

Methods

Institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 586 adult visceral leishmaniasis patients who were admitted to the University of Gondar Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Data were collected from the patients’ charts and registration books, and analyzed using Stata 14 software. Kaplan–Meier failure curve and Log rank test was used to compare the survival probability of patients with independent variables. A multivariable stratified Cox regression model was used to identify predictors of mortality among VL patients. P≤ 0.05 was employed to declare statistically significant factors. Adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated for potential risk factors included in the multivariable model.

Results

A total of 586 VL patients were included in the study. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 55 years with a median age of 27 years. The incidence of mortality was 6.6 (95% CI: 5.2–8.4) per 1000 person-days of observation. Independent predictors of mortality were presence of comorbidity (AHR=2.29 (95% CI: 1.27–4.11)), relapse VL (AHR=3.03 (95% CI: 1.25–7.35)), treatment toxicity (AHR=5.87 (95% CI: 3.30–10.44)), nasal bleeding (AHR=2.58 (95% CI: 1.48–4.51)), jaundice (AHR=2.84 (95% CI: 1.57–5.16)) and being bedridden at admission (AHR=3.26 (95% CI: 1.86–5.73)).

Conclusion

The incidence of mortality among VL patients was high. Mortality was higher among VL patients with concomitant disease, relapse VL, treatment toxicity, nasal bleeding, jaundice, and those who were bedridden at admission, which implies that great care should be taken for these risky groups through strict follow-up and treatments.

SLC11A1 (rs3731865) polymorphism and susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis in HIV-coinfected patients from Northeastern Brazil

Following the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the number of visceral leishmaniasis-HIV (VL-HIV) coinfections has increased worldwide, mainly in Brazil. The development of clinical forms of VL can be influenced by nutritional status, age, and host genetic factors, which are important variables determining susceptibility to disease. There are no studies with a candidate gene approach assayed directly in the VL-HIV-coinfected population. Herein, we determined and analyzed the associations of SLC11A1, LECT2, CCL1, CCL16, and IL4 genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to VL-HIV coinfection in Northeastern Brazil. We analyzed 309 DNA samples extracted from the peripheral blood of HIV patients, and clinical and hematological data were collected from medical records. The diagnosis of VL was confirmed in 110 out of 309 patients; genotyping was carried out by TaqMan assays afterwards. Our results confirmed the association between the SLC11A1 polymorphism (rs3731865) and VL-HIV coinfection (p = 0.0206, OR 1.8126, 95% CI 1.1050-2.9727). In addition, the SLC11A1 genotype GG (p = 0.0050, OR 3.0395, 95% CI 1.4065-6.5789) and CD4+ T lymphocyte count (p = 0.0030, OR 0.9980, 95% CI 0.9970-0.9990) were associated with VL-HIV coinfection in a multivariate model. The polymorphism of the SLC11A1 gene (rs3731865) was associated with VL-HIV coinfection, suggesting a possible genetic mechanism involved in the susceptibility to VL in HIV patients. This finding can suggest new therapeutic targets and genetic markers for the VL-HIV-coinfected population.

[Pancytopenia of unknown origin in a 52-year-old patient]

A 52-year-old patient developed pancytopenia of unknown origin 1.5 years after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The bone marrow aspirate showed visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Although VL is distributed world-wide, the incidence in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is rare.

Double Infection With Leishmania tropica and L. major in an HIV Patient Controlled With High Doses of Amphotericin B

We present a unique case of disseminated Leishmaniasis in an HIV patient. Two different Leishmania species were identified by genomic sequencing in both bone marrow and skin. The Leishmania infection could be suppressed but not cured, despite a high dose of amphotericin B of nearly 65 g over more than 6 years.

Characterization of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in visceral leishmaniasis associated with hiv co-infection in Northeastern Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis, associated with HIV/AIDS coinfection, is becoming a more aggressive disease, complicating an accurate prognosis. A 21-year-old HIV-positive female presenting with clinical features of visceral leishmaniasis was enrolled in this study. Bone marrow cytology, Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle culture and kDNA PCR of peripheral blood were all positive. Typing methods, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and ITS1-RFLP PCR of peripheral blood confirmed infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi . PCR has proved to be safer and more affordable than other characterization methods; ITS1-RFLP PCR can diagnose and type Leishmania spp. in both endemic and non-endemic areas, favoring the prognosis and allowing the appropriate treatment of patients.

Leishmaniasis in Thailand: A Review of Causative Agents and Situations

Before 1999, leishmaniasis was considered an imported disease in Thailand. Since then, autochthonous leishmaniasis was reported in both immmunocompetent and immmunocompromised patients especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A new species was identified and named as Leishmania siamensis consisting of two lineages, that is, lineages TR and PG. Analysis of isoenzymes has clarified the more commonly detected L. siamensis lineage PG as Leishmania martiniquensis (MON-229), a species originally reported from the Martinique Island, whereas the L. siamensis lineage TR has been identified as the true novel species, L. siamensis (MON-324). Both cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been found among Thai patients. Disseminated CL and VL could be presented in some reported patients who had HIV/AIDS coinfection. So far, only sporadic cases have been reported; thus, the true prevalence of leishmaniasis should be determined in Thailand among the high-risk populations such as people with HIV/AIDS. A recent survey among animals identified L. martiniquensis DNA in black rats (Rattus rattus) suggesting a potential animal reservoir. In addition, L. martiniquensis DNA was identified in Sergentomyia gemmea and Sergentomyia barraudi, the predominant sandfly species in the affected areas. However, further studies are needed to prove that these sandflies could serve as the vector of leishmaniasis in Thailand.

Immune Activation and Bacterial Translocation: A Link between Impaired Immune Recovery and Frequent Visceral Leishmaniasis Relapses in HIV-Infected Patients

The maintenance of chronic immune activation due to leishmaniasis or even due to microbial translocation is associated with immunosenescence and may contribute to frequent relapses. Our aim was to investigate whether patients with HIV-associated visceral leishmaniasis (VL/HIV) who experience a single episode of VL have different immunological behaviors in comparison to those who experience frequent relapses. VL/HIV patients were allocated to non-relapsing (NR, n = 6) and relapsing (R, n = 11) groups and were followed from the active phase of VL up to 12 months post-treatment (mpt). The patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and secondary prophylaxis after VL therapy. During active VL, the two groups were similar in all immunological parameters, including the parasite load. At 6 and 12 mpt, the NR group showed a significant gain of CD4⁺ T cells, a reduction of lymphocyte activation, and lower soluble CD14 and anti-Leishmania IgG3 levels compared to the R group. The viral load remained low, without correlation with the activation. The two groups showed elevated but similar percentages of senescent T cells. These findings suggest a decreased ability of the R group to downmodulate immune activation compared to the NR group. Such functional impairment of the effector response may be a useful indicator for predicting clinical prognosis and recommending starting or stopping secondary prophylaxis.