The use of conjunctival swabs in the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis

Sara Maestrini; Aurora Diotallevi; Luca Santilli; Benedetta Canovari; Chiara Orlandi; Gloria Buffi; Marcello Ceccarelli; Luca Galluzzi

doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116450

The use of conjunctival swabs in the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2024 Oct;110(2):116450. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116450. Epub 2024 Jul 19.

Authors

Sara Maestrini¹, Aurora Diotallevi², Luca Santilli³, Benedetta Canovari³, Chiara Orlandi¹, Gloria Buffi¹, Marcello Ceccarelli¹, Luca Galluzzi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
² Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Unit of Infectious Diseases, San Salvatore Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Territoriale Pesaro-Urbino, Pesaro, Italy.

PMID: 39029389
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116450

Abstract

Human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease whose diagnosis comprises immunological tests, microscopic biopsy examination, and biomolecular assays. In veterinary medicine, conjunctival swabs are widely used for detection of parasite DNA. Here, we describe the case of human VL in which conjunctival swabs were successfully used for Leishmania detection.

Keywords: Conjunctival swabs; HRM; Leishmania; Visceral leishmaniasis; qPCR.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Conjunctiva* / parasitology
DNA, Protozoan / genetics
Humans
Leishmaniasis, Visceral* / diagnosis
Leishmaniasis, Visceral* / parasitology
Male
Specimen Handling / methods

Substances

DNA, Protozoan