Visceral leishmaniasis is a life-threatening disease endemic in tropical and subtropical regions and in the Mediterranean basin. Two species (Leishmania infantum/chagasi and Leishmania donovani) with different host reservoirs are responsible for visceral disease. The infection is usually transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies, whereas vertical and blood transfusion transmission is rarely observed. We report a 35-year-old Italian pregnant woman in the 26th gestational week presenting with progressive fatigue, intermittent fever, and pancytopenia who finally was diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis. She had treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and delivered at week 38 a baby small for gestational age. The newborn had a positive Leishmania serology that turned negative at 6 months of age.
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Antinori et al. (2024) studied this question.
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