Diagnostic considerations about visceral leishmaniasis. Two case report.
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.
Pasticci
Maria Bruna
MB
Dipartimento Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Sezione Clinica di Malattie Infettive, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia.
Papili
Rita
R
Menichetti
Francesco
F
Ballanti
Stelvio
S
Ottaviani
Letizia
L
Tabilio
Antonio
A
Stagni
Giuliano
G
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
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B