Non-Leishmania Parasite in Fatal Visceral Leishmaniasis–Like Disease, Brazil

Abstract

Through whole-genome sequencing analysis, we identified non-Leishmania parasites isolated from a man with a fatal visceral leishmaniasis–like illness in Brazil. The parasites infected mice and reproduced the patient’s clinical manifestations. Molecular epidemiologic studies are needed to ascertain whether a new infectious disease is emerging that can be confused with leishmaniasis.

Keywords

• Visceral leishmaniasis–like
• Crithidia-related
• genome sequencing
• parasites
• Brazil
• whole-genome sequencing