Clinico-immunological spectrum of American tegumentary leishmaniasis and leprosy coinfection: A case series in Southeastern Brazil

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2019 Apr 11:52:e20180172. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0172-2018.

Abstract

Introduction: American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and leprosy share common areas of prevalence, but reports of coinfection are scarce.

Methods: We report a series of 9 ATL-leprosy cases and discuss the association. An integrative diagram to analyze the clinico-immunological features of coinfection with both diseases.

Results: Nine patients with leishmaniasis (5 cutaneous, 3 mucocutaneous, 1 disseminated case) exhibited concurrent infection with distinct clinical forms of leprosy. Our diagram-based analysis evidenced a divergent clinico-immunological spectrum for each disease in 8 out of 9 cases.

Conclusions: The spectrum of ATL-leprosy comorbidity suggests that the host has a specific immune response against each pathogen.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coinfection / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / complications
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology*
  • Leprosy / complications
  • Leprosy / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*