Visceral Leishmaniasis in a Patient with No Apparent Risk Factors: A Case Report

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a globally widespread zoonotic infection, including in the Mediterranean basin. There are four known types of disease: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral and post Kala-Azar dermal leishmaniasis. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum and L. donovani. It manifests through general symptoms, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia in children younger than ten years old and immunocompromised adults. Case presentation: An 18-year-old female patient is admitted for evaluation, in the context of prolonged febrile syndrome, after successive respiratory intercurrents, weight loss, night sweats and arthromyalgias, with the onset 8 months before. When interviewing the patient, one travel to Valencia, in October 2023, was reported. General laboratory analysis and abdominal ultrasound investigations showed no alterations. However, a specific Western blot test for anti-L. infantum IgG antibodies, was positive. Under treatment with amphotericin B, symptoms resolved and the following PCR test was negative. Conclusions: Leishmaniasis was identified in a female patient without specific risk factors. The finding underlines the need for a closer collaboration with infectious disease specialists, depending on the clinical and epidemiological context.