Dear Editor,
Leishmaniasis is an important insect borne infection that is endemic in South America, Africa
and the Middle East. However, within the recent few years, the new infection due to
Leishmania siamensis is observed in Southeast Asia11 Bualert L, Charungkiattikul W, Thongsuksai P, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong
S, Khositnithikul R et al. Autochthonous disseminated dermal and visceral leishmaniasis in
an AIDS patient, southern Thailand, caused by Leishmania siamensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg.
2012;86(5):821-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0707
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-07...
,22 Osatakul S, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong S, Hitakarun A, Kositnitikul R,
Naaglor T et al. Recurrences of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania siamensis
after treatment with amphotericin B in a seronegative child. Am J Trop Med Hyg.
2014;90(1):40-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398...
.
This new species of Leishmania can cause both visceral and cutaneous forms of clinical
manifestation. Focusing on neurological manifestation, Petersen and Greenlee reported that
“there are multiple reported instances both in human and veterinary medicine where neurologic
manifestations, whether central or peripheral33 Petersen CA, Greenlee MH. Neurologic manifestations of Leishmania spp:
infection. J Neuroparasitology. 2011;2. pii: N110401.. "In fact, Llanos-Cuentas et al. mentioned that neurological
manifestation of leishmaniasis is possible and can be forgotten44 Llanos-Cuentas A, Valencia BM, Petersen CA. Neurological manifestations of
human leishmaniasis. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;114:193-8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00013-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490...
. Llanos-Cuentas et al. proposed that “in patients from
Leishmania-endemic areas, when observing neurological symptoms, causation secondary to
infection with Leishmania spp. may be considered44 Llanos-Cuentas A, Valencia BM, Petersen CA. Neurological manifestations of
human leishmaniasis. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;114:193-8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00013-3
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490...
." Focusing on the new species infection from Thailand, there has never
been information regarding neurological manifestation. Here, the authors tried to summarize
the previous reports on this new infection. Of available reports on 8 cases of infection11 Bualert L, Charungkiattikul W, Thongsuksai P, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong
S, Khositnithikul R et al. Autochthonous disseminated dermal and visceral leishmaniasis in
an AIDS patient, southern Thailand, caused by Leishmania siamensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg.
2012;86(5):821-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0707
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-07...
,22 Osatakul S, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong S, Hitakarun A, Kositnitikul R,
Naaglor T et al. Recurrences of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania siamensis
after treatment with amphotericin B in a seronegative child. Am J Trop Med Hyg.
2014;90(1):40-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398...
,55 Suankratay C. Autochthonous Leishmaniasis: an emerging zoonosis in Thailand.
J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents. 2014;31(1):1-8. there
is no observed neurological manifestation. Further studies on the possibility of neurological
involvement of Leishmania siamensis is the topic for further research.
References
-
1Bualert L, Charungkiattikul W, Thongsuksai P, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong S, Khositnithikul R et al. Autochthonous disseminated dermal and visceral leishmaniasis in an AIDS patient, southern Thailand, caused by Leishmania siamensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012;86(5):821-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0707
» https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0707 -
2Osatakul S, Mungthin M, Siripattanapipong S, Hitakarun A, Kositnitikul R, Naaglor T et al. Recurrences of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania siamensis after treatment with amphotericin B in a seronegative child. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014;90(1):40-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398
» https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0398 -
3Petersen CA, Greenlee MH. Neurologic manifestations of Leishmania spp: infection. J Neuroparasitology. 2011;2. pii: N110401.
-
4Llanos-Cuentas A, Valencia BM, Petersen CA. Neurological manifestations of human leishmaniasis. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;114:193-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00013-3
» https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53490-3.00013-3 -
5Suankratay C. Autochthonous Leishmaniasis: an emerging zoonosis in Thailand. J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents. 2014;31(1):1-8.
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
Apr 2015
History
-
Received
31 Oct 2014 -
Reviewed
06 Jan 2015 -
Accepted
26 Jan 2015