Leishmania braziliensis causing visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection, identified with the aid of the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

This study describes a male patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection, grade IV-C (oropharyngeal moniliasis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia), associated with visceral involvement produced by Leishmania braziliensis which was identified by deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization after the polymerase chain reaction had been performed. The patient was treated with molgramostim in association with meglumine antimonate to enhance macrophage destruction of parasites.