Visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis (pronounced: vis-er-al leish-ma-ni-a-sis), also known as Kala-azar or Black fever, is a severe form of leishmaniasis, a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania species. The term "visceral" is derived from the Latin "viscus", meaning "internal organ", and "leishmaniasis" is named after the British pathologist William Boog Leishman, who first identified the parasite.

Symptoms

Visceral leishmaniasis is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anemia. If left untreated, the fatality rate in developing countries can be as high as 100% within two years.

Transmission

The disease is transmitted by the bite of female sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. The sandflies inject the infective stage (i.e., promastigotes) into the skin of the host, which are phagocytized by macrophages and transform into amastigotes.

Treatment

Treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis include antimonial drugs, amphotericin B, miltefosine, and paromomycin. The choice of treatment depends on the geographical location of the infection and the patient's response to therapy.

Prevention

Prevention strategies include vector control through the use of insecticides and bed nets, and control of the reservoir hosts, mainly dogs. A vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis is currently under development.

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Visceral leishmaniasis