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Dyarrheal Syndrome in a Patient Co-Infected with Leishmania infantum and Schistosoma mansoni

Authors :
Cota, Gláucia Fernandes
Gomes, Luciana Inácia
Pinto, Bruna Fernandes
Santos-Oliveira, Joanna R.
Da-Cruz, Alda Maria
Pedrosa, Moisés Salgado
Tafuri, Wagner Luiz
Rabello, Ana
Source :
Case Reports in Medicine.
Publication Year :
2012
Publisher :
Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2012.

Abstract

This case report describes an atypical clinical presentation of visceral leishmaniasis affecting the digestive tract and causing malabsorption syndrome in a patient without recognized immunosuppressive condition. After appropriate treatment for the classical visceral form of the disease, diarrhea persisted as the main symptom and massive infection by Leishmania was detected by histopathology analysis of the duodenal mucosa. Schistosoma mansoni coinfection was also confirmed and treated without impact on diarrhea. New course of amphotericin B finally led to complete improvement of diarrhea. Atypical visceral leishmaniasis involving the gastrointestinal tract is well recognized in HIV coinfection but very rare in immunocompetent patients. The factors determining the control or evolution of the Leishmania infection have not been completely identified. This case stresses the importance of atypical symptoms and the unusual location of visceral leishmaniasis, not only in immunodepressed patients, and raises the possible influence of chronic infection by S. mansoni reducing the immune response to Leishmania.

Subjects

Subjects :
Article Subject
parasitic diseases

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16879627
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Case Reports in Medicine
Accession number :
edsair.hindawi.publ..44effe6019c85098a1f3a239995893fc
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/240512