S Chiewchanvit1, N Tovanabutra1, N Jariyapan2, M D Bates3, P Mahanupab4, M Chuamanochan1, A Tantiworawit1, P A Bates3. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 2. Department of Parasitology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. 3. Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, U.K. 4. Department of Pathology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand.
Abstract
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; RPL23a 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.
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; RPL23a 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.
Authors: Veronika Seblova; Jovana Sadlova; Barbora Vojtkova; Jan Votypka; Simon Carpenter; Paul Andrew Bates; Petr Volf Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2015-09-14