Exam 2 - Leishmania Flashcards
The four stages of trypanosomes we are responsible for.
- Promastigote
- Epimastigote
- Trypomastigote
- Amastigote
Bodily system affected by Leishmaniasis
Reticulo-Endothelial System (particularly macrophages)
Visceral leishmaniasis
Caused by Leishmania donovani; infection of macrophages inside visceral organs like the spleen and liver. AKA Kala-azar or Dum-dum fever.
Promastigote
Flagella arises from kinetosome at anterior end of flagellate.
Epimastigote
Kinetosome & kinetoplast in center by nucleus and begins to form undulating membrane.
Trypomastigote
Kinetosome & kinetoplast on bottom, undulating membrane goes all the way up to the anterior end where the free flagella is.
Amastigote
Round ball shape with no free flagella; still has kinetosome, kinetoplast, and nucleus.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis
Infection of macrophages of the skin. Caused by either Leishmania tropica (Middle East) or Leishmania mexicana (Americas) depending on the type.
Oriental sore
Type of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica.
Chiclero’s Ulcer
Type of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania mexicana. Usually infecting ear or nose.
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
Caused by Leishmania braziliensis. Infection of the mucous layers.
Worst type of Leishmaniasis
Kala-azar
What is the relationship between infected sand flies and fruit?
Ingesting fruit triggers reproduction of promastigotes inside infected sand flies & subsequent plugging of the pharynx prior to their next blood meal where the promastigotes will be expelled into a human.
What is unique about sand fly saliva?
Their saliva suppresses immunological function of the macrophages which the parasites infect!
Sand Fly Geographic Distribution
Phlebotomus spp. found on all continents besides Australia.
