Fever of unknown origin and splenomegaly: a case report of visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing

Future Microbiol. 2023 Jul:18:699-705. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0038. Epub 2023 Jul 31.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp., which is transmitted by sandflies. As China is not the main epidemic area and VL has complex and atypical clinical manifestations, it is easily misdiagnosed or even missed in clinical practice. Without prompt and efficient treatment, the mortality rate of VL is extremely high; therefore early diagnosis of VL is crucial. Herein we describe a case of fever and splenomegaly of unknown origin, which was finally diagnosed as VL by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Keywords: diagnosis; metagenomic next-generation sequencing; visceral leishmaniasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fever of Unknown Origin*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Leishmania*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral* / diagnosis
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral* / drug therapy
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral* / epidemiology
  • Splenomegaly / diagnosis