Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus

Previous reports described visceral leishmaniasis as a complication of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and pointed out the atypical clinical features of leishmaniasis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). On the other hand, it has been observed that visceral leishmaniasis may, in some cases, mimic AIDS, and must be ruled out in diagnosing AIDS according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria. The authors report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in an Italian patient affected with an AIDS-related complex syndrome.