Leishmania sp. Flashcards
Parasites of the genus Leishmania exist solely as amastigote forms in the vertebrate host where they parasitize macrophages in the skin or internal organs (T/F)
True
What are the hosts of Leishania sp?
Old world- dogs, rodents
New world- Rodents, sloths
What are the new world intermediate hosts for Leishmania?
Lutzomyia (type of sand fly)
What are the old world intermediate hosts for Leishmania?
Phlebotomus (type of sandfly)
What is the geographical location of L. donovani?
Global
What is the geographical location of L. majora and L. tropica?
Eastern Hemisphere
What is the geographical location of L. braziliense?
Western Hemisphere
Which species of Leshmania causes visceral leishmaniasis?
L. donovani
Which species of Leshmania causes cutaneous leishmaniasis?
- L. braziliensis (New world)
- L. tropica (Old world)
- L.major (Old World)
Which species of Leshmania cuases muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis?
L.braziliense
How does tranmission of leishmania occur?
Sandfly infected with promastigotes bites at dawn and dusk
Describe the lifecycle of leishmanias spp.?
1) Amastigotes ingested by sandfly during blood meal.
2) Amastigotes turn into promastigotes in the gut of vector
3) Sandfly innoculates animal reservoir with promastigotes.
4) Promastigotes become amastigotes in human WBC macrophages
5) Repilcation by binary fission bursts macrophage releasing amastigotes which infect other macrophages after 48 hours.
6) Amastagote enters new skin macrophages for cutaenous parasites, visceral 4-6 days, or muco-cutaneous
What is another name for visceral leishmaniasis?
Kala-Azar
What are the early clinical symptoms of Kala-Azar?
- Irregular fever (classic daily double peak)
- Anemia
- Leucopenia
- Diarrhea
- Bleeding gums
- Joint pain
- Weight loss
What are the later clinical symptoms of Kala-Azar?
- Lymph node enlargement
- Hepatosplenomagaly
- leads to death
