Summary
- American tegumentary leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease in Brazil caused by protozoans and transmitted by sand flies.
- Disseminated leishmaniasis (DL) has been increasing in recent years, with no histopathologic differences from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) but associated with host and parasite factors.
- A study in Brazil evaluated the influence of intestinal helminthiasis on clinical manifestations and response to therapy in DL patients.
- The study found a high prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis but no significant difference in outcomes between CL and DL patients.
- Cure rates for DL patients treated with antimonials were lower compared to CL patients, highlighting the need for further research on factors affecting therapeutic response.
A recent study conducted in Brazil has shed light on a skin disease called leishmaniasis, which is caused by tiny parasites called Leishmania and spread by sand flies. The most common species causing this disease in Brazil is Leishmania braziliensis.
The study focused on two forms of leishmaniasis – cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and disseminated leishmaniasis (DL). CL shows up as skin ulcers, while DL is a severe form where the parasites spread to multiple areas of the body, leading to numerous skin lesions. The number of DL cases has been increasing in recent years.
The researchers looked into whether having intestinal worms (helminths) along with leishmaniasis could affect the disease’s progression and response to treatment. They found that nearly half of the patients had intestinal helminth infections, but it did not impact the outcomes of either CL or DL.
Interestingly, they observed that patients with DL tended to be older and took longer to respond to treatment compared to those with CL. However, the presence of intestinal helminths did not make a difference in the treatment outcomes for either group of patients.
The study highlighted the need for further research to understand how the immune system responds to these parasites and why some patients develop the severe form of the disease. Despite the high prevalence of intestinal helminths, they did not seem to influence the course of leishmaniasis in this study.
Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing the progression and treatment response of leishmaniasis, particularly in regions like Brazil where the disease is widespread.
Infectious Diseases,Gastroenterology,Public Health & Prevention