Human visceral leishmaniasis: A picture from Italy

• Published in: Journal of infection and public health Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 465 - 472
• Main Authors: Abdalmaula, Giuma Harun, Barbadoro, Pamela, Marigliano, Anna, Illuminati, Diego, Di Stanislao, Francesco, D’Errico, Marcello Mario, Prospero, Emilia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Female; Geographical distribution; HIV co-infection; HIV Infections - complications; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Human protozoal diseases; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Incidence; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Italy - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leshmaniasis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Surveillance; Topography, Medical; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Visceral leishmaniasis/epidemiology; Young Adult; Italy; Europe; Geographical distribution; Leishmaniasis; Surveillance; HIV co-infection; Visceral leishmaniasis/epidemiology; Human; Immunopathology; Protozoal disease; Mixed infection; Kala azar; AIDS; Parasitosis; Immune deficiency; Epidemiology; Infection; Geographic distribution; Viral disease
• ISSN: 1876-0341; 1876-035X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2013.03.004

Abstract The aim of our study was to describe the distribution of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Italy, focusing on HIV-infected patients, to estimate the burden of the disease and the public health actions that should be undertaken. A review of official notifications and hospitalization data has been performed. From 2006 to 2008, a total of 289 cases of VL were notified; the overall notification rate was 1.63/1,000,000 (95% CI 1.45–1.83). In total, 1192 VL-associated hospitalizations were detected, with a hospitalization rate of 6.71/1,000,000 (95% CI 6.34–7.10). For the age group “≤24 years”, a statistically significant increase was detected ( p < 0.05). A total of 68.9% ( n = 821) of hospitalizations were detected in HIV-positive patients. The geographic distribution of rates revealed a significant increase in the north-eastern area of the country. Our study confirms that the epidemiological pattern of VL is changing and that, in Italy, control measures and preventive strategies should be based on not only the official notification system but also hospital data. This would lead to the identification of areas of parasite spread and to the creation of awareness campaigns geared toward general practitioners in the affected areas. Easy case detection would allow for timely public health actions and strategies for the implementation of more effective interventions for reservoir control.