Premium
Chronic generalized fibrotic skin lesions from disseminated leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania martiniquensis in two patients from northern Thailand infected with HIV
Author(s) -
Chiewchanvit S.,
Tovanabutra N.,
Jariyapan N.,
Bates M.D.,
Mahanupab P.,
Chuamanochan M.,
Tantiworawit A.,
Bates P.A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.13812
Subject(s) - visceral leishmaniasis , leishmaniasis , cutaneous leishmaniasis , leishmania , leishmania infantum , leishmania tropica , leishmania major , leishmania donovani , immunology , biology , kinetoplastida , medicine , virology , pathology , parasite hosting , malaria , protozoal disease , world wide web , computer science
Summary 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. Objectives 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; RPL 23a 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.