title: Diagnostic considerations about visceral leishmaniasis. Two case report.
abstract: Two cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in immunocompetent patients have been described. Both patients lived in endemicic areas for leishmaniasis in the south of Italy, tested positive for anti-Leishmania antibodies. A definitive diagnosis of VL was delayed by false negative microscopic examinations. Both patients were treated successfully with liposomal amphotericin B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immuno Fluorescent Assay (IFA) performed as an available test. It helped to pursue the correct diagnosis and therapy. Microscopy is reported to be highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of VL, nevertheless it may yield false negative results when examined in laboratories without good expertness.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Sezione Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia.
authors.forename: Maria Bruna
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pasticci
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papili
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.forename: Stelvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballanti
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabilio
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stagni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B