Mise au point et actualités sur la leishmaniose viscérale méditerranéenne

Leishmaniasis are protozoan infections transmitted by the bite of the sandflies, widely reported except in North-America and Australia. Here, we focus on mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum, with an estimated annual incidence of 1200-2000 cases. Its biological cycle is zoonotic and mainly involves the canine reservoir. The recent epidemiological observations are reported here, particularly the asymptomatic carriage but also the extension of the canine enzooty. Regarding treatment of immunocompetent patients, the drug of choice for mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis is liposomal amphotericin B. In case of HIV-Leishmania co-infection, the interest of secondary prophylaxis is still in debate.