Leishmaniasis Flashcards
Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis
- Pentavalent antimonials
- Miltefosine
-Pentamidine - Paromomycin
- Amphotericin B
Mechanism of action of pentavalent antimonials
- Suppresses both glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism of parasites.
- Binds to the sulphydryl groups of amastigote proteins.
Side effects of pentavalent antimonials
Pain at the site of i.m. injection
Pancreatitis
Increased serum hepatic transaminase levels
Bone marrow suppression
Muscle and joint pain
Headache, nausea, abdominal pain, skin rashes.
Miltefosine explanation
It is an alkylphospholipid originally developed as an anticancer drug.
Pentamidine explanation
A diamidine useful in antimony-resistant leishmaniasis.
Pentamidine MOA
Binds to DNA and may inhibit its replication.
Side effects of pentamidine visceral leishmaniasis treatment
Tachycardia
Breathlessness
Dizziness
Headache
vomiting
Examples of pentavalent antimonials
- sodium stibogluconate
- meglumine antimoniate.
Paromomycin description
An aminoglycoside antibiotic
Amphotericin B description
A polyene antibiotic (antifungal)
Drugs to use cutaneous leishmaniasis
Sodium stibogluconate
Metronidazole
Ketoconazole
Paromomycin
Miltefosine
Diagnostic methods for leishmania parasites
- Blood smear examination
- Indirect immunological methods of diagnosis:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- Antigen-coated dipsticks
- Direct agglutination test.
Stains used in leishmaniasis observation
Leishmania stainorGiemsa stain (pH7.2) for 20 minutes.
Samples used in leishmaniasis tests
Buffy –coat preparations of peripheral blood or aspirates from marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, or skin lesions
The leishmaniases are diseases caused by ____ that are transmitted to humans by the bites of ___
Protozoan parasites; infected female phlebotomine sandflies
Leishmania reservoirs
Small mammals e.g. dogs, foxes, rodents, bats etc.
The symptoms of leishmaniasis are
skin sores,which erupt weeks to months after the person is bitten by infected sand flies.
Visceral (abdominal organ) leishmaniasis is caused by
Leishmania donovani.
How does the parasite cause visceral Leishmaniasis?
Here, the protozoan parasitizes the reticuloendothelial cells, which results in an enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver and spleen.
Cutaneous (skin reaction) leishmaniasis is caused by
L. tropica.
Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis produces
widespread skin lesions which resemble leprosy and may not heal on its own.
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (S. American) is caused by
L. braziliensis.
Symptoms of cutaneous leishmaniasis
An open sore wound at the bite site which heals in months to years, leaving an unpleasant scar.
