Leishmania Flashcards

1
Q

What is the insect vector for leishmania?

A

Sandfly

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2
Q

Inside the human host, which cells do the parasites replicatewithin?

A

Macrophages

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3
Q

What are the two forms of leishmania and how are they different?

A

Promastigotes – found in the sandfly – they have a flagellum (which they move towards) and they are motile
Amastigotes – found within humans/other vertebrate hosts – they have resorbed their flagellum and are no longer motile – found in macrophages

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4
Q

Where, across the world, are sandflies found?

A

Warm parts of the world – Southern Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Australia

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5
Q

How is transmission of leishmania in Europe changing?

A

It is spreading northwards

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6
Q

Which gender of sandflies takes blood meals?

A

Females – need blood to provide nutrition for eggs

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7
Q

What are the four major forms of leishmaniasis?

A
Visceral Leishmaniasis  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis  
Diffuse Cutaneous 
Leishmaniasis  
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
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8
Q

What is another name for visceral leishmaniasis?

A

Kala Azar (black fever)

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9
Q

What are the features of visceral leishmaniasis?

A

Irregular fever
Weight loss
Enlarged liver and spleen
Anaemia

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10
Q

What are some risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis?

A

Malnutrition
Immunosuppression (e.g. because of drugs)
HIV

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11
Q

Which type of leishmania causes the majority of cases of visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia?

A

L. donovani

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12
Q

How is visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed?

A

Visualisation of the amastigote parasite my microscopic examination of aspirates
Antibody detection

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13
Q

What are the treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis?

A

Sodium stibogluconate or meglumin antimoniate

Liposomal amphotericin B

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14
Q

What other clinical manifestation of leishmania can occur during or after treatment for visceral leishmaniasis?

A

Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL)

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15
Q

Describe the features of local cutaneous leishmaniasis.

A

Heals spontaneously
Immunity from reinfection
NOTE: it can still leave disfiguring scars

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16
Q

Describe the features of diffused cutaneous leishmaniasis.

A
Disseminated lesions  
Resembles leprosy  
No spontaneous healing  
Difficult to treat 
Frequent relapses
17
Q

Which part of the body does mucocutaneous leishmaniasis typically affect?

A

Mouth and nose

18
Q

Describe the features of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

A

Disfiguring and destroys mucous membranes
No spontaneous healing
Frequent relapses

19
Q

What type of leishmania are the majority of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions caused by?

A

L. aethiopica