title: Chronic generalized fibrotic skin lesions from disseminated leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania martiniquensis in two patients from northern Thailand infected with HIV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis is a newly emerging infection in Thailand. Most of the previous human cases have presented with the clinical features of visceral leishmaniasis and were mainly found in southern Thailand. Here we report the first two patients from northern Thailand presenting with disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the nature of the infection of leishmaniasis and to identify the species of parasite responsible.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical investigations included the taking of biopsy samples and histology. Parasitological diagnosis was performed by establishment of Leishmania promastigote cultures, and identification was performed by DNA sequencing of four independent gene loci (ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer 1; large subunit of RNA polymerase II; heat shock protein 70; RPL23a intergenic sequence).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients were infected with HIV, and had multiple cutaneous lesions and accompanying visceral leishmaniasis. They had similar cutaneous manifestations characterized by chronic generalized fibrotic lesions, which were more prominent on traumatic areas. In both patients the parasite was identified as Leishmania martiniquensis. This is a recently described species that is distinct and only distantly related to the classical agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Asia (Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica) or of visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum). Each patient responded well to therapy with intravenous amphotericin B followed by oral itraconazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leishmania martiniquensis is a cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiewchanvit
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tovanabutra
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jariyapan
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, U.K.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahanupab
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chuamanochan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tantiworawit
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, U.K.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D060085:Coinfection / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004431:Ear, External; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000469:parasitology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013785:Thailand