Interstitial pneumonitis in human visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract

The involvement of the lung in 13 cases of human visceral leishmaniasis was studied. Interstitial pneumonitis with mononuclear cells was found in 76.8% of the cases; 53.8% also had foci of septal fibrosis. Leishmania were seen within macrophages in 3 cases only. However, all 10 interstitial pneumonitis cases showed PAP-positive material using specific L. donovani (MHOM/BR/72/LD 46) antiserum. 3 cases with no interstitial pneumonitis were PAP-negative. A short discussion about clinical aspects and the course of the disease is presented.