Indian kala-azar caused by Leishmania tropica

D. L. Sacks*, R. T. Kenney, F. A. Neva, R. D. Kreutzer, C. L. Jaffe, A. K. Gupta, M. C. Sharma, S. P. Sinha, R. Saran

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

116 Scopus citations

Abstract

Kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, in India is generally assumed to be a result of infection with Leishmania donovani. 15 parasite isolates collected over the past 10 years from patients with classical disease were typed by monoclonal antibodies, isoenzymes, and kDNA analysis. 4 were shown to be L tropica, a species historically associated with cutaneous disease and more recently a mild "visceralising" disease from the Desert Storm experience. The results confirm that L tropica is a coendemic agent of visceral leishmaniasis in India, and may shed light on the rising frequency of therapeutic unresponsiveness to sodium antimony gluconate, which complicates treatment of this lethal disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)959-961
Number of pages3
JournalThe Lancet
Volume345
Issue number8955
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Apr 1995

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