title: Visceral leishmaniasis: a forgotten epidemic.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL or kala-azar) is most endemic in Asia and Africa and commonly affects young children. It is usually caused by Leishmania donovani or Leishmania infantum that are transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies. Transmission may be anthroponotic or zoonotic or both, depending on the endemic area. Clinical features include fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss and pancytopenia. Younger age, malnutrition and immunosuppression (HIV infection, use of immunosuppressive drugs) are risk factors. Many infections remain asymptomatic. Diagnosis is made by demonstration of the Leishmania parasite in aspirates of lymph node, bone marrow or spleen. Serological tests such as rK39 strip test are widely used but the sensitivity varies. qPCR is useful to detect low numbers of parasites and to monitor treatment. Treatment is with AmBisome monotherapy in most areas but with drug combinations elsewhere. HIV co-infected patients are most difficult to treat and often relapse. Control efforts focus on case finding, availability of diagnostic tools, reservoir control and protection from sand flies (insecticides, bed nets). There is no human vaccine.
authors.forename: Eduard E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
mesh_terms: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D057148:Insecticide-Treated Bednets; D007306:Insecticides; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011934:Reagent Strips / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007306:Insecticides; D011934:Reagent Strips
keywords: Epidemiology; Tropical Inf Dis