LEISHMANIASIS AND HIV-INFECTION

The epidemiological, clinical and biological features of associated vi sceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus infection are examin ed on the basis of a literature review of 239 published cases. The co- infection is principally located in Southern Europe, mainly in Spain, France and Italy. The study of restricted cohorts of patients showed t hat co-infection occurs in about 2 to 7% of AIDS patients. A part from the classical symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis, atypical or unusual symptoms (cutaneous, digestive or pulmonary) are described in about 1 0% of the cases. The parasite is occasionally found in blood and norma l skin. Visceral leishmaniasis is frequently associated with other opp ortunistic diseases. Nine different zymodemes of Leishmania infantum, including two new ones, have been isolated from co-infected patients. There have also been a few cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis associat ed with AIDS.