Leishmania infantum infection after visiting southern Spain in patients on biological treatment; an observational, longitudinal, cohort study

• Background: Reports of leishmaniasis in immunosuppressed patients after visiting the Mediterranean Basin are becoming increasingly common. Still, awareness of the risk of infection and its clinical manifestations may be insufficient among healthcare professionals in the travellers' home countries.Methods: This observational, longitudinal study included 47 patients from Sweden with rheumatic disease and ongoing immunomodulatory treatment, who visited a rehabilitation centre in southern Spain where leishman-iasis is endemic. Patients were evaluated for clinical signs of leishmaniasis at baseline and after three years. Patients with leishmaniasis were followed for 4-5 years. The treatment outcome was assessed by clinical eval-uation and determination of the cell-mediated immunological response to Leishmania by a whole blood cytokine release assay.Results: Seven patients (15%) were diagnosed with leishmaniasis. The median time from exposure to the onset of symptoms was 3 [1-17] months. The median delay between the onset of symptoms and treatment start was 9 [1-12] months. All patients with leishmaniasis responded well to treatment. Only one patient had a relapse, which occurred within the first year.Conclusion: Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the increased risk of leishmaniasis for travellers who are immunosuppressed. Knowledge of the symptoms is crucial for a timely diagnosis and early treatment.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Infektionsmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Infectious Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Leishmaniasis

Immunosuppression

Rheumatic disease

Biological

treatment

Tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitor

Travel medicine

necrosis factor therapy

of-the-literature

cutaneous leishmaniasis

visceral leishmaniasis

challenge

travelers

outbreak

Public

Environmental & Occupational Health

Infectious Diseases

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)