Chronic High-Level Parasitemia in HIV-Infected Individuals With or Without Visceral Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Area in Northwest Ethiopia: Potential Superspreaders?

ABSTRACT:

Background

People with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) with recurrent visceral leishmaniasis (VL) could potentially drive Leishmania transmission in areas with anthroponotic transmission such as East Africa, but studies are lacking. Leishmania parasitemia has been used as proxy for infectiousness.

Methods

This study is nested within the Predicting Visceral Leishmaniasis in HIV-InfectedPatients (PreLeisH) prospective cohort study, following 490 PWH free of VL at enrollment for up to 24-37 months in northwest Ethiopia. Blood Leishmania polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done systematically. This case series reports on 10 PWH with chronic VL (≥3 VL episodes during follow-up) for up to 37 months, and 3 individuals with asymptomatic Leishmania infection for up to 24 months.

SUBMITTER: van Griensven J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11259210 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature