Leishmaniasis

Question 1

Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis

Answer 1

• Pentavalent antimonials
• Miltefosine
  -Pentamidine
• Paromomycin
• Amphotericin B

Question 2

Mechanism of action of pentavalent antimonials

Answer 2

• Suppresses both glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism of parasites.
• Binds to the sulphydryl groups of amastigote proteins.

Question 3

Side effects of pentavalent antimonials

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Miltefosine explanation

Answer 4

It is an alkylphospholipid originally developed as an anticancer drug.

Question 5

Pentamidine explanation

Answer 5

A diamidine useful in antimony-resistant leishmaniasis.

Question 6

Pentamidine MOA

Answer 6

Binds to DNA and may inhibit its replication.

Question 7

Side effects of pentamidine visceral leishmaniasis treatment

Answer 7

Tachycardia
Breathlessness
Dizziness
Headache
vomiting

Question 8

Examples of pentavalent antimonials

Answer 8

• sodium stibogluconate
• meglumine antimoniate.

Question 9

Paromomycin description

Answer 9

An aminoglycoside antibiotic

Question 10

Amphotericin B description

Answer 10

A polyene antibiotic (antifungal)

Question 11

Drugs to use cutaneous leishmaniasis

Answer 11

Sodium stibogluconate
Metronidazole
Ketoconazole
Paromomycin
Miltefosine

Question 12

Diagnostic methods for leishmania parasites

Answer 12

1. Blood smear examination
2. Indirect immunological methods of diagnosis:
   - Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
   - Antigen-coated dipsticks
   - Direct agglutination test.

Question 13

Stains used in leishmaniasis observation

Answer 13

Leishmania stainorGiemsa stain (pH7.2) for 20 minutes.

Question 14

Samples used in leishmaniasis tests

Answer 14

Buffy –coat preparations of peripheral blood or aspirates from marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, or skin lesions

Question 15

The leishmaniases are diseases caused by ____ that are transmitted to humans by the bites of ___

Answer 15

Protozoan parasites; infected female phlebotomine sandflies

Question 16

Leishmania reservoirs

Answer 16

Small mammals e.g. dogs, foxes, rodents, bats etc.

Question 17

The symptoms of leishmaniasis are

Answer 17

skin sores,which erupt weeks to months after the person is bitten by infected sand flies.

Question 18

Visceral (abdominal organ) leishmaniasis is caused by

Answer 18

Leishmania donovani.

Question 19

How does the parasite cause visceral Leishmaniasis?

Answer 19

Here, the protozoan parasitizes the reticuloendothelial cells, which results in an enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver and spleen.

Question 20

Cutaneous (skin reaction) leishmaniasis is caused by

Answer 20

L. tropica.

Question 21

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis produces

Answer 21

widespread skin lesions which resemble leprosy and may not heal on its own.

Question 22

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (S. American) is caused by

Answer 22

L. braziliensis.

Question 23

Symptoms of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Answer 23

An open sore wound at the bite site which heals in months to years, leaving an unpleasant scar.