title: [Visceral leishmaniases].
abstract: Leishmanioses are a group of infections caused by the protozoa Leishmania. Humans are infected by female sandfly bites. Leishmaniosis is found in Mediterranean Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Various clinical expressions are possible: visceral (kala-azar) or cutaneous (Old world cutaneous leishmaniosis). In Mediterranean Europe, visceral leishmaniosis with the classical triad, splenomegaly, pallor, fever, was traditionally a childhood disease whereas today the disease with atypical clinical expressions strikes immunocompromised patients. In these atypical forms of visceral leishmaniosis, diagnosis and treatment are particularly difficult. Leishmania-DNA research using polymerase chain reaction is often necessary to perform the diagnosis, and lipid-associated formulations of amphotericin B, rapidly effective and well-tolerated in patients without immunodeficiency, do not prevent recurrences in immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de parasitologie-mycologie Hôpital Jean-Minjoz 25030 Besançon.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piarroux
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bardonnet
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B