Noninvasive Molecular Diagnosis of Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

Laboratory diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the Leishmania donovani complex, is a vector-borne systemic disease, with a worldwide distribution causing high morbidity and mortality in the developing world. VL patients may be asymptomatic or they may present symptoms and findings of a systemic infection. The positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis in patients with typical symptoms is usually h...

[Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis].

The differential diagnosis between visceral leishmaniasis and lymphoplasmacell polimorphocell lymphosarcoma may be difficult. One case is described in which electron microscopy allowed detection of Leishmania in the histiocytes of the spleen.

Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with up to 350 million people at risk of infection worldwide. Among its different clinical manifestations, visceral is the most severe form. Since clinical features of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) mimic several other common diseases, accurate diagnosis is crucial as the treatment is associated with significant toxicity. Invasive and risky techniques involv...

Laboratory diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis

The group of diseases known as the leishmaniases are caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania (39). Natural transmission of leishmania is carried out by a certain species of sandfly of the genus Phlebotomus (Old World) or Lutzomyia (New World). These are present in three different forms: (i) visceral leishmaniasis (VL), (ii) cutaneous leishmaniasis, and (iii) mucocutane...