Resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in Bangladesh

Abstract

Out of 218 suspected cases of kala-azar from different parts of Bangladesh, 59 could be confirmed; and out of 41 patients with suspected skin lesions, 6 were confirmed as post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Confirmation of diagnosis was based on the demonstration of L-D bodies in tissue specimens (spleen and liver (after puncture) or skin scrapings).The complement fixation test (CFT) and aldehyde test (AT) were positive in all but one case of kala-azar. Their usefulness in the diagnosis of the disease has been emphasized. The aldehyde test is very simple to perform and does not require any equipment or electricity; it can therefore be used as a screening test in rural areas.Failure of the organism to grow in NNN medium in 2 cases and failure to maintain organisms isolated from some other cases for more than 2-3 weeks in the culture medium indicate the possibility that different strains were involved. As the number of kala-azar cases appears to be increasing, the threat of an epidemic is real.