Studies on mediterranean leishmaniasis I. An outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis in Northern Italy

Abstract

Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data are reported on the outbreak of human visceral leishmaniasis in Emilia-Romagna in 1971–1972 which affected 60 individuals (42 adults and 18 children) with 13 deaths. A serological mass screening of 2,485 people in the area revealed the occurrence of 91 serum positive cases. Liver biopsy was carried out in 6 of these cases and revealed a peculiar form of granulomatous hepatitis which in 1 was accompanied by the presence of Leishmaniae. Some hypotheses are suggested on the possible causes of this outbreak.