Disseminated American muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania brasiliensis brasiliensis in a patient with AIDS: a case report

Abstract

The authors report a case of culture-proven disseminated American muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis in an HIV positive patient. Lesions began in the oropharynx and nasal mucosa eventually spreading to much of the skin surface. The response to a short course of glucantime therapy was good.

Some Aspects of Protozoan Infections in Immunocompromised Patients: A Review

“…Parasites isolated from co-infected patients included strains previously undetected in immunocompetent individuals, including some species restricted to lower animals. Visceral dissemination of species that commonly cause the cutaneous form of the disease (e.g., L. braziliensis) has also been observed by us and others (Coura et al 1987, Machado et al 1992, Alvar et al 1997.…”

Persistent Infections by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

“…The existence of cryptic or inapparent infection by Leishmania is revealed in patients affected by AIDS when cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesions appear without a previous history of leishmaniasis (Coura et al 1987, Machado et al 1992. Recently, using a L. braziliensis specific polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) (Guevara et al 1992) based on ribosomal nontranscribed spacer sequences, we detected parasite DNA on blood samples of a patient who suffered from multiple cutaneous lesions 30 years ago, and was cured spontaneously (Guevara et al 1993).…”

Co-Infection of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and HIV: Report of a Case of Mucosal Leishmaniasis in Cochabamba, Bolivia

“…Of note is the rapid evolution within 3 months from LCL in both feet to a disseminated pathology, with multiple ulcerative lesions in the face and upper and lower limbs, a pathology already observed in other co-infection cases reported in Latin America. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Additionally, the patient presented with ML, characterized by several lesions on the lips, palate, pharynx, larynx, and bronchia, which probably caused the severe dysphonia, dysphagia, and hyper-secretion. The patient reported to have gone to work in an area (i.e., Chapare) known to be endemic for LCL and ML.…”

“…8 In contrast to VL, only scarce data are available on LCL in HIV-infected patients in the Americas, with isolated case reports available from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, French Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. 8 Literature on ML in HIV-infected patients is even rarer, with only a dozen or so of cases reported in Argentina, 9 Brazil, [10][11][12][13][14] French Guyana, 15,16 and Peru. 17 We describe an ML patient attending the Hospital of Viedma Hospital in Cochabamba, Bolivia, who on further examination, was found to be infected with HIV; the patient was started on amphotericin B therapy, responded well, but was lost to follow-up.…”