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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected vector-borne disease associated with socioeconomic and environmental issues. In Brazil, epidemics of VL have occurred in major cities since 1980. Applied models for medical and epidemiological research have been used to assess the distribution and characteristics of disease endpoints and identify and characterize potential risk factors. This study described the demographic features of VL and modeled the spatio-temporal distribution of human VL cases and their relationship with underlying predicitve factors using generalized additive models. We conducted an ecological study covering an 18-year period from the first report of an autochthonous case of VL in Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in 2001 to 2018. The urban area of the city has 74 neighborhoods, and they were the units of analysis of our work. Socioeconomic and demographic data available from Brazilian public databases were considered as covariables. A total of 1,855 VL cases were reported during the study period, with an annual mean incidence rate of 13.23 cases per 100,000 population and a cumulative crude incidence of 235.77 per 100,000 population. The results showed the rapid transition from epidemic to endemic and the centrifugal dispersal pattern of the disease. Moreover, the model highlighted that the urban quality of life index, which is calculated based on income, education, housing conditions, and environmental sanitation data, plays a role in VL occurrence. Our findings highlighted the potential for improving spatio-temporal segmentation of control measures and the cost-effectiveness of integrated disease management programs as soon as VL is difficult to control and prevent and has rapid geographical dispersion and increased incidence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine whether medical staff at PHC level would have the time to take up additional activities such as 1-day fever camps for active VL case detection. Methods This article assessed the workload of health staff of different professional categories working at health facilities in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Data were collected from different sites in high endemic VL areas. The study population was the health staff of government health facilities at all levels. Workload indicators of staffing need ( WISN) software were adopted to carry out the analysis of staff workload and their availability in the selected health facility. The WISN difference and WISN ratio for a particular health facility were calculated from actual staffing available and calculated staffing requirement. Results The results showed a mixed picture of the availability of health workers. In most settings of Bangladesh and India, physicians with or without laboratory technicians would have time for active case detection. In Nepal, this would be performed by trained nurses and paramedical personnel. Conclusion If all vacant posts were filled, active case detection could be performed more easily. The elimination programme can be scaled up with the current staffing levels in the endemic areas with some short training if and when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rK39 recombinant protein is derived from a specific antigen produced by the Leishmania donovani complex, and has been used in the last two decades for the serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. We present here a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating serologic assays to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis to determine the accuracy of rK39 antigen in comparison to the use of other antigen preparations. Methodology/Principal Findings: A systematic review with meta-analysis of the literature was performed to compare the rK39 strip-test and ELISA formats against serological tests using promastigote antigens derived from whole or soluble parasites for Direct Aglutination Test (DAT), Indirect Immunofluorescence test (IFAT) and ELISA with a promastigote antigen preparation (p-ELISA). Gold standard diagnosis was defined by the demonstration of amastigotes on hematological specimens. A database search was performed on Medline, Lilacs, Scopus, Isi Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Quality of data was assessed using the QUADAS questionnaire. A search of the electronic databases found 352 papers of which only 14 fulfilled the selection criteria. Three evaluated the rK39 ELISA, while 13 evaluated the rK39 immunochromatographic strip test. The summarized sensitivity for the rK39-ELISA was 92% followed by IFAT 88% and p-ELISA 87%. The summarized specificity for the three diagnostic tests was 81%, 90%, and 77%. Studies comparing the rK39 strip test with DAT found a similar sensitivity of 94%, although the DAT had a slightly higher specificity. The rK39 strip test was more sensitive and specific than the IFAT and p-ELISA. We did not detect any difference in the sensitivity and specificity between strips produced by different manufacturers. Conclusions: The rK39 protein used either in a strip test or in an ELISA, and the DAT are the best choices for implementation of rapid, easy and efficient test for serodiagnosis of VL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of fifty consecutive cases of Kala-azar admitted in the medicine units of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital during the period from February 2006 to October 2006 were included in this study. The number of the patients clearly indicates that the burden of Kala-azar in this region is significant and expanding. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1. Fever (96%) and splenomegaly (100%) were the predominant features. Hepatomegaly was found in 82% of the cases. Other clinical manifestations were Hyperpigmentation (76%), weight loss (62%), pallor (60%), jaundice (10%), oedema (10%), cough (6%) and lymphadenopathy (4%). Fever of 75% cases subsided within one week of starting treatment. Weight of 89.6% cases increased after completion of treatment. After completion of treatment spleen size regressed in 95.8% cases and no LD (Leishmania donovani) body was seen in 46 (92%) patients splenic / bone marrow aspiration after completion of treatment. 2 (4%) patients remain LD body positive after completion of treatment and 2 (4%) patients died during treatment. Still sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) is very effective in the clinical and parasitologicaly confirmed Kala-azar patients. A combination of sand fly control, early detection and treatment of the patients is the best approach for controlling Kala-azar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coinfection is less commonly observed in individuals around the world, yet it is more common than the single infection. Around 800 million people worldwide are infected with helminths as a result of various diseases. Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are chronic, deadly, crippling, and debilitating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that are endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to poor hygienic conditions, poverty, and genetic predisposition, those living in endemic areas are more likely to develop both leishmaniasis and filariasis. One of the key challenges in the management of LF/VL coinfection is the development of an effective therapeutic strategy that not only treats the first episode of VL but also prevents LF. However, there is a scarcity of knowledge and data on the relationship between LF and VL coinfection. While reviewing it was apparent that only a few studies relevant to LF/VL coinfections have been reported from southeastern Spain, Sudan, and the Indian subcontinents, highlighting the need for greater research in the most affected areas. We also looked at LF and VL as a single disease and also as a coinfection. Some features of the immune response evolved in mammalian hosts against LF and VL alone or against coinfection are also discussed, including epidemiology, therapeutic regimens, and vaccines. In addition to being potentially useful in clinical research, our findings imply the need for improved diagnostic methodology and therapeutics, which could accelerate the deployment of more specific and effective diagnosis for treatments to lessen the impact of VL/LF coinfections in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sandflies that transmit the parasites causing human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) can be controlled by several methods, including indoor residual spraying (IRS), the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and ecological vector management (EVM). The financial costs of each of these three methods of sandfly control have recently been assessed and compared, in a multi-centre study based on the Indian sub-continent. In each of the four study sites (two in Nepal and one each in India and Bangladesh), 24 neighbourhoods were randomly selected in districts with high incidences of VL. The costs of the three interventions were then prospectively assessed in each study neighbourhood, in the local currency, and then converted to U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate in the country concerned. The costs of IRS, which ranged from U.S.$2.4–11.7 (mean = U.S.$5.9) per household-year, were greater than those of LLIN (U.S.$3.5–5.1/household-year, with a mean of U. S.$4.5) but less than those of EVM (U. S.$5.0– 14.0/household-year, with a mean of U.S.$8.7). These results indicate that LLIN and IRS may be the cheaper options for the control of sandflies on the Indian sub-continent, and that EVM should perhaps only be taken up as a complimentary and voluntary method. Various combinations of these interventions (based on country-specific social and economic factors) may, however, be the best and most cost-effective choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports about a medical study to find the effectiveness of amphotericin B in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) during pregnancy. In the study four pregnant women with VL were treated with 15 infusions of amphotericin B and their haematological characteristics, blood biochemistry, and the condition of their foetuses were explored during the treatment. In the end of treatment, all four patients were cured without any affect on the foetuses and also the neonates showed no evidence of the vertical transmission of the parasites that had caused VL in their mothers.

Abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar continues to persist as one of the major public health problems in many tropical countries. However, no effective treatment for radical cure of the disease is yet available. Miltefosine, an alkyl phospholipid compound, is the first orally effective drug, which has shown 98% cure rate of VL patients during phase III clinical trial conducted in India. Since this drug requires long course of treatment and has long half-life, there are fairly good chances of emergence of resistance. Furthermore, this drug has produced severe side effects in some of the cases. We therefore examined the possibility of minimizing these effects by applying miltefosine in lower doses in combination with picroliv, an immunomodualtor against Leishmania donovani in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The picroliv per se showed no antileishmaial potential. However, when given with suboptimal dose of miltefosine, it enhanced efficacy of the latter from 45 to 86% on day 7 post treatment and from 32 to 64% on day 28 post treatment. Interestingly, the effectivity of this combination was as good as that of the curative dose of miltefosine alone. Thus, this combination appears to offer a fruitful strategy for treatment of VL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]