A sporadic case of visceral leishmaniasis from Kocaeli, Turkey - Case report

Meric M., AYDOGAN A., SARPER N., ARISOY E. S.

APMIS, vol.114, no.11, pp.818-820, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 114 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2006.apm_474.x
  • Journal Name: APMIS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.818-820
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in the western and southeastern parts of Turkey. We report a sporadic case of visceral leishmaniasis from Kocaeli, which is not an endemic area. The patient, a 10-month-old male infant, had since birth never been outside the city. He was referred to our hospital with a one-month history of fever. Antibiotics were administered but fever persisted. There were Leishman bodies in the bone marrow aspirate, both in macrophages and in clusters among other cells. Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) detected no antibodies in the mother. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered. Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with persistant fever, hepatosplenomegaly and cytopenia, even in nonendemic areas.