HIV Leishmania coinfection

Abstract

The alterations of host defenses resulting from HIV infection is the basis for the appearance of opportunistic complications; cases of visceral leishmaniosis in HIV-Infected adults have been recently reported from Brazil, Spain and Italy; Leishmania infection may take place before or after the viral one. in the endemic leish. maniosis zones most of the population becomes infected with Leishmania but do not necessarily develop the disease; HIV infection may be a factor leading to clinical leishmaniosis. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility and request adequate parasitological tests on HIV-Infected patients in order to provide the proper treatment and follow-up of leishmaniosis.