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Review
. 2014 Jun 26;8(6):e2869.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002869. eCollection 2014 Jun.

Visceral Leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection in East Africa

Ermias Diro  1 , Lutgarde Lynen  2 , Koert Ritmeijer  3 , Marleen Boelaert  4 , Asrat Hailu  5 , Johan van Griensven  2
Affiliations
Review

Visceral Leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection in East Africa

Ermias Diro et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is an important protozoan opportunistic disease in HIV patients in endemic areas. East Africa is second to the Indian subcontinent in the global VL caseload and first in VL-HIV coinfection rate. Because of the alteration in the disease course, the diagnostic challenges, and the poor treatment responses, VL with HIV coinfection has become a very serious challenge in East Africa today. Field experience with the use of liposomal amphotericin B in combination with miltefosine, followed by secondary prophylaxis and antiretroviral drugs, looks promising. However, this needs to be confirmed through clinical trials. Better diagnostic and follow-up methods for relapse and prediction of relapse should also be looked for. Basic research to understand the immunological interaction of the two infections may ultimately help to improve the management of the coinfection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of East Africa showing the geographic distribution of visceral leishmaniasis.
Map taken from “Malaria Consortium; Leishmaniasis control in eastern Africa: Past and present efforts and future needs. Situation and gap analysis, November 2010” .
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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