Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis as presentation of HIV infection in Sardinia, insular Italy

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is endemic in Sardinia but only cutaneous and visceral cases have been reported to date. We report a case of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis as presentation of HIV infection in a Sardinian patient who had never visited endemic areas. Serological and clinical diagnosis was cytologically and histopathologically confirmed. The patient had a good response to treatment with liposomal amphotericin combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy without recurrences after four years. Our case report highlights the need to better assess the circulation of species, risk factors and clinical spectrum of Leishmania infection in the Italian Mediterranean islands.

Keywords: HIV; Italy; Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.