HIV and visceral leishmaniasis coinfection in Bihar, India: an underrecognized and underdiagnosed threat against elimination.

The status of Visceral Leishmaniasis in India

According to the recent reports of World Health Organization (WHO), 20 000 to 30 000 deaths occur annually due to Leishmaniasis and 200 000 to 400 000 new cases occur worldwide each year. India stands with maximum number of visceral leishmanial cases (20102013) and Bihar state alone reports more than 70% of the total reported cases in India. Efforts are being made by the Government of India in ...

The poorest of the poor: a poverty appraisal of households affected by visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India.

OBJECTIVE To provide data about wealth distribution in visceral leishmaniasis (VL)-affected communities compared to that of the general population of Bihar State, India. METHODS After extensive disease risk mapping, 16 clusters with high VL transmission were selected in Bihar. An exhaustive census of all households in the clusters was conducted and socio-economic household characteristics wer...

Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV co-infection in Bihar, India: a wake-up call?

Combination Treatment for Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in India

BACKGROUND There are considerable numbers of patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the VL-endemic areas of Bihar, India. These patients are at higher risk of relapse and death, but there are still no evidence-based guidelines on how to treat them. In this study, we report on treatment outcomes of coinfected patients up to 18 months follow...

Insecticide resistance in phlebotomine sandflies in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Indian subcontinent

BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar in India, is a global public health problem. In Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are endemic for visceral leishmaniasis. The role of sandflies as the vector of kala-azar was first confirmed in 1942 in India. Insecticide resistance in Phlebotomus argentipes Annandale and Brunetti, the vector of...