Question

What is the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis? How is the disease transmitted and what are its typical manifestations?

Answer 1

The etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis is Leishmania donovani, L. infantum or L. chagasi.

Visceral leishmaniasis is transmitted from one person to another by the bite of infected female Phlebotamine sandfly. It can aso be transmitted by due to contact with the insect when it is feeding or due o contamination of the bite wound.

Typical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis are:

Weight loss, weakness, prolonged fever, enlargement of spleen and liver, swollen lymph nodes, anaemia, pancytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia.