Abstract:
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Leishmania/HIV coinfection is a new
clinical form of leishmaniasis that
has been reported in more than 35
countries [1,2]. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that
39.5 million people are infected by HIV
worldwide and that one-third of them
live in Leishmania-endemic regions
[1,2]. Most of the reported Leishmania/
HIV coinfections were among patients
infected with viscerotropic parasites,
but few data are available on L. major/
HIV coinfection [2]. Coinfection of
HIV patients with Leishmania spp. can
occur naturally through infected vectors
or artificially among intravenous drug
users and recipients of blood transfusion.
The coinfection modulates the
severity of the clinical presentation of
leishmaniasis and interferes with proper
diagnosis. Leishmania/HIV coinfection
of patients can result in the emergence
of diverse Leishmania parasite clones;
suppresses the host immune response;
and increases blood parasitaemia, hence
enhancing transmission. The coinfection
also reduces the response of patients
to antileishmanial drugs [3].
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected
clinical form of leishmaniasis
in Sudan. It is endemic in the north,
central and western regions of the country.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sudan
is thought to be caused by Leishmania
major and transmitted by Phlebotomus
papatasi. Recently L. donovani has been
identified as a cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis
in Sudan, although the vector
has not yet been identified [4].
HIV is a growing health problem
in Sudan with an increasing prevalence
in most regions of the country. In this
manuscript we report the first patient
diagnosed with L. major/HIV coinfection
in Sudan |