Hematological features of visceral leishmaniosis (kala-azar) of infected children in Baghdad, Iraq.

Leishmania donovani complex are the exclusive causative agents of systemic and fatal visceral leishmaniosis. In Iraq however, the case numbers of this fatal disease continue to be sustained. The present study aimed to characterize the prevalence and the hematological features of Iraqi children hospitalized cases with fatal visceral leishmaniosis. Hospitalized children considered positive for fatal visceral leishmaniosis depending on bone marrow aspiration and indirect florescent antibody test IFAT titer 1/34 and up. Prevalence of fatal visceral leishmaniosis in 115 children at Baghdad city revealed male were higher infected (54%) than female (46%). The 1–3 years age was the most affected (53.3%). The most prevalence (74.9%) in cold season in compare with lowest prevalence (26.0%) at hot season. Hematological features examination of infected children revealed hypochromic and microcytic anemia with leukopenia and neutropenia and lymphocytosis.