ABSTRACT
Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is an uncommon form of Leishmania braziliensis infection. It remains unknown why some people develop this clinical condition. We describe 14 DCL patients in Northeast Brazil during 2015-2018. These patients regularly drank large amounts of alcohol, possibly increasing their risk for DCL.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism , Leishmania braziliensis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous , Brazil/epidemiology , Ethanol , Humans , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiologySubject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/blood , Blood Donors , DNA, Protozoan/blood , Leishmania infantum/genetics , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Animals , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Asymptomatic Diseases , Brazil/epidemiology , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Humans , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/blood , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/transmission , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Psychodidae/parasitologyABSTRACT
A modified imprint method, Press-Imprint-Smear, was compared with histopathology for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Amastigotes were seen in 69 (92%) of 75 individuals in one or both assays. The Press-Imprint-Smear was positive in 85.3%, and histopathology was positive in 44%. Press-Imprint-Smear is a rapid and relatively sensitive method for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Biopsy/methods , Leishmania braziliensis/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Brazil , Humans , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
We report for the first time the successful use of fluconazole to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis. We used escalating doses from 5 to 8 mg/kg per day. At a dose of 5 mg/kg per day, 75% patients were cured, and at 8 mg/kg per day, the cure rate was 100%. Fluconazole was well tolerated.
