Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common are cutaneous and visceral. The cutaneous type causes skin sores. The visceral type affects internal organs such as the spleen, liver and bone marrow. People with this form usually have fever, weight loss and an enlarged spleen and liver.

Leishmaniasis is found in parts of about 88 countries. Most of these countries are in the tropics and subtropics. It is possible but very unlikely that you would get this disease in the United States. But you should be aware of it if you are traveling to the Middle East or parts of Central America, South American, Asia, Africa or southern Europe.

The best way to prevent the disease is to protect yourself from sand fly bites. If not treated, leishmaniasis can be serious. Visceral disease can be deadly.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Leishmaniasis on Wikipedia

'''Leishmaniasis''' is a disease caused by parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly. Synonyms for leishmaniasis include '''kala azar''', '''Black Fever''', '''sandfly disease''' and '''Dum-Dum fever'''. The disease is named for William Boog Leishman. Most forms of the disease are transmittable only from animals (zoonosis), but some can be spread between people.

Epidemiology

External Resources

Leishmaniasis, Canine - Immunization using interferon-gamma as an adjuvant.

Leishmaniasis, Technical - Slides of L.donovani and L.mexicana. From Atlas of Medical Parasitology (Italy).

Leishmaniasis, All About - Abstract, introduction, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and differential, ecology, treatment and control, drugs. From Medscape.

Persian Gulf, The Impact of Infectious Diseases on the Health of U.S. Troops - Includes Leishmaniasis as one of the diseases studied in connection with Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. From Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses, reprinted from Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Leishmaniasis, All About - Introduction, clinical, differentials, workup, treatment, medication, follow-up, miscellaneous, pictures, test questions, bibliography. From emedicine.

Leishmaniasis, All About - Introduction, morphology, transmission, immunology, and treatment. From the University of East London, B.Sc Applied Biology course project.

Leishmaniasis, Technical - Summary information plus clickable slides, references and world maps. From Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology.

Leishmaniasis, Technical - Information on Cutaneous, Mucocutaneous, and Visceral types. From University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, 'Hemoflagellates'.

Third Cost-B9 Congress - Leishmaniasis seminar in Bruges, Belgium on 29-31 May 2000 sponsored by COST-B9 (European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research).

Leishmaniasis, Government (CDC) - Reports: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Emerging Infectious Diseases. From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).