Question

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

Answer 1

Please find the answers below:

Etiology: Viscelar leishmaniasis is a protozoan infection caused by parasites of species Leishmania. This parasite belongs to phylum euglenozoa. This organism is an obligate parasite and resides inside a vertebrate host including humans. Multiple types of leishmaniasis diseases occur in humans including skin infection or cutaneous, gastric disturbances and other septic reactions.

Transmittance: The disease is generally transmitted through a smaller insect called sandfly. This insect carries the infective agent inside its body and thus whenever it bites a human host, it infects the same with the parasite. These parasites are transmitted into the blood stream and thus infect the host. The parasite passes through various stages of development after it reaches inside the host body.

Manifestations: Typical manifestations of leishmaniasis include highly infected-looking scars and ulcers on the skin and mucous glands such as nose and mouth, including infection in the intestine i.e. liver, spleen, stomach, swelling or enlarged liver, serious anemia and weakness with fever.

Thus, it can be concluded that visceral leishmaniasis is potentially life-threatening disease which requires immediate attention.