Leishmania donovani

 

 

 

https://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/Leishmania_donovani_01.png

 

 

Physiology and Structure

 

The promastigote stage (long, slender form of free flagellum) is present in the saliva of infected sandflies.

A human is infected once it is bitten by an infected fly whereby the promastigotes are injected into the skin and lose their flagella. Reproduction occurs in the amastigote stage. 

The destruction of tissues begin when the cells rupture. It will then multiply by binary fission and the cycle repeats itself.

 

Life cycle:

 

 

 

  https://www.telmeds.org/AVIM/Apara/flagelados/Leishmania/images_Ldonovani/Leishmania_LifeCycle.gif

 

Clinical Syndromes

 

Victims would experience an offset of fever , diarrhea and anemia. During the early stages of the infection, victims may experience chills and sweating, similar to that of malaria. 

As the organisms multiply and invade the cells of the liver and spleen, these organs would start to swell, and the victim might experience weight loss and emaciation (substantial loss of fat of muscle tissue).

As the disease continues, the skin of the victim would be pigmented.

The disease is proved fatal is left untreated. Victims are given around 1 to 2 years to live.

 

Treatment, Prevention and Control

 

The control of the complex organism is best achieved through prompt diagnosis and treatment of effected individuals. Places with sandflies should be avoided. Insect repellent should be used and protective clothing, screens and bed netting should be used. 

We do not take credit for any of the information found in this website. All the information is obtained from various forms of literature.

Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.