A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection
Abstract Background Leishmania infantum is the only prevalent Leishmania species in Europe and manifesting predominantly as cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, whereas new world species like Leishmania (L.) braziliensis are well known pathogens in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Mucosal leishmaniasis...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10592-4 |
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| author | Yannik Eggers Martha Holtfreter Irmela Müller-Stoever Johannes Mischlinger Andreas Hammacher Bernhard Hemmerlein Alexander Kreuter Frank Oellig Dennis Tappe Tom Luedde Torsten Feldt Hans Martin Orth |
| author_facet | Yannik Eggers Martha Holtfreter Irmela Müller-Stoever Johannes Mischlinger Andreas Hammacher Bernhard Hemmerlein Alexander Kreuter Frank Oellig Dennis Tappe Tom Luedde Torsten Feldt Hans Martin Orth |
| author_sort | Yannik Eggers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Leishmania infantum is the only prevalent Leishmania species in Europe and manifesting predominantly as cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, whereas new world species like Leishmania (L.) braziliensis are well known pathogens in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Mucosal leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum is a rare clinical condition with only few cases described in literature. In contrast to our case, mostly immunocompromised patients with no history of leishmaniasis are affected. Case presentation We describe the case of a 77-year-old German male who developed an ulcerous lesion of the tongue. As oral cancer was suspected, the patient underwent surgery. After suspected diagnosis of Leishmania spp. in histopathology, the patient was referred to our department for further diagnostics and treatment. Relapse from a cutaneous leishmaniasis acquired in Spain is likely, as L. infantum could be identified as the causative agent. The patient recovered after treatment. Conclusions Mucosal leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum is rare and usually mistaken for malignancy. As demonstrated, it can be preceded by cutaneous leishmaniasis of the immunocompetent. Due to possible dissemination systemic treatment should be applied. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-b292c86e09cd48018974052f1dced4372025-08-20T02:15:08ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-02-012511710.1186/s12879-025-10592-4A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infectionYannik Eggers0Martha Holtfreter1Irmela Müller-Stoever2Johannes Mischlinger3Andreas Hammacher4Bernhard Hemmerlein5Alexander Kreuter6Frank Oellig7Dennis Tappe8Tom Luedde9Torsten Feldt10Hans Martin Orth11Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfCenter for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfKlinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie, Helios Klinikum Duisburg-HombergInstitut für Pathologie, Helios Klinikum KrefeldKlinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Helios St. Elisabeth Klinik Oberhausen, Universität Witten/HerdeckeInstitut für PathologieBernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical MedicineDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDepartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfAbstract Background Leishmania infantum is the only prevalent Leishmania species in Europe and manifesting predominantly as cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, whereas new world species like Leishmania (L.) braziliensis are well known pathogens in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Mucosal leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum is a rare clinical condition with only few cases described in literature. In contrast to our case, mostly immunocompromised patients with no history of leishmaniasis are affected. Case presentation We describe the case of a 77-year-old German male who developed an ulcerous lesion of the tongue. As oral cancer was suspected, the patient underwent surgery. After suspected diagnosis of Leishmania spp. in histopathology, the patient was referred to our department for further diagnostics and treatment. Relapse from a cutaneous leishmaniasis acquired in Spain is likely, as L. infantum could be identified as the causative agent. The patient recovered after treatment. Conclusions Mucosal leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum is rare and usually mistaken for malignancy. As demonstrated, it can be preceded by cutaneous leishmaniasis of the immunocompetent. Due to possible dissemination systemic treatment should be applied.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10592-4Mucosal leishmaniasisLeishmania InfantumTongueCutaneous leishmaniasisReactivation |
| spellingShingle | Yannik Eggers Martha Holtfreter Irmela Müller-Stoever Johannes Mischlinger Andreas Hammacher Bernhard Hemmerlein Alexander Kreuter Frank Oellig Dennis Tappe Tom Luedde Torsten Feldt Hans Martin Orth A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection BMC Infectious Diseases Mucosal leishmaniasis Leishmania Infantum Tongue Cutaneous leishmaniasis Reactivation |
| title | A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection |
| title_full | A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection |
| title_fullStr | A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection |
| title_short | A rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of Leishmania infantum infection |
| title_sort | rare case of lingual mucosal leishmaniasis caused by reactivation of leishmania infantum infection |
| topic | Mucosal leishmaniasis Leishmania Infantum Tongue Cutaneous leishmaniasis Reactivation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10592-4 |
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