Clinical and epidemiological investigation of a new case of visceral leishmaniasis in Xin'an county, Henan province

Objective To understand the source of infection, transmission route, susceptible population, clinical manifestations and laboratory diagnostic methods, drug treatment and preventive measures of new leishmaniasis, To provide medical personnel with experience in the control of kala-azar. Methods The retrospective investigation method was used to analyze and collate clinical records of city and county hospitals according to epidemiological investigation of city and county centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results The main clinical manifestations of the patients were irregular fever, pancytopenia, and inverted white bulb ratio. Bone marrow and spleen punctures showed leishmania, rK39 immunochromatographic strip was positive for antibody, PCR amplification and sequencing revealed Leishmania infantile. Epidemiological investigation revealed the presence of Phlebotomus sinensis, the vector of leishmaniasis transmission. Although the detection of kala-azar antibody in local village dogs was negative, the serological positive rate of kala-azar in neighboring village dogs was 10%. The treatment of leishmaniasis with antimony sodium gluconate was short and effective. Conclusion Epidemic areas should regularly monitor the infection of phlebotomus and dogs, and provide scientific control data in a timely manner. Medical staff should raise awareness of kala-azar and reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.