A case of visceral leishmaniasis and pulmonary tuberculosis in a post-partum woman

• Main Authors: Claudia Colomba, Lucia Adamoli, Marcello Trizzino, Lucia Siracusa, Silvia Bonura, Manlio Tolomeo, Massimo Cajozzo, Giovanni Maurizio Giammanco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Visceral leishmaniasis; Pulmonary Tuberculosis; Pregnancy
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S120197121401738X

Visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum is a vector-borne zoonotic disease transmitted by sand fly bites endemic in rural or periurban areas of the Mediterranean basin. Pregnancy is accompanied by changes in immune response, mainly a decrease in cellular immunity and a proportional increase in humoral immunity. These physiological events result in increased risk of infection by pathogens whose immunity is based on a T-helper 1 predominant response. We describe a case of visceral leishmaniasis and pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed in a post-partum woman four days after delivery. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis should be considered in pregnant women with fever and haematologic abnormalities in endemic regions or if a history of exposure in endemic areas is reported.