Leishmaniasis: An Emerging Disease in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Leishmaniasis is caused by the infection of haemoparasite „Leishmaniadonovani’. Clinically it can present as Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (MCL) and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). In India it is a major health problem in the North & Central regions of India and is infrequently reported from western India. However, we encountered two clinically suspected cases of Leishmaniasis over a period of six months in the 2009. First case presented with Post Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) and second presented as VL with secondary septicemia. In first case laboratory diagnosis was made by demonstration of LD bodies on histopathological examination and in second case anti-leishmanial antibodies were also detected. The reason for the emergence of the disease in an area from where it had not been reported earlier could be due to migration of people from areas where the disease is endemic to hubs of development in urban areas for their livelihood.