Sketchy Micro: Leishmaniasis

Question 1

Which species of Leishmaniasis cause cutaneous leishmaniasis?

Answer 1

Leishmania braziliensis (like the zombie wearing the Brazilian flag whose flesh has been eaten away)

Question 2

How is Leishmania transmitted?

Answer 2

It is carried by sandflies (like the flies around the zombie) and its amastigotes are contained in macrophages (like the goats in cages).

Question 3

How can you diagnose Leishmaniasis?

Answer 3

Blood smear will show small nuclear cells in macrophages (like the spots on the goats).

Question 4

What disease is caused by Leishmania donovani?

Answer 4

Visceral leishmaniasis

Think of the boy Donovan with the dark kala-azar spots on his skin.

Question 5

What symptoms are characteristic of visceral leishmaniasis?

Answer 5

• Pancytopenia (like the broken RBCs on the PAN that Donovan is offering to the zombie)
• Fever (Donovan is sweating and red)
• Hepatosplenomegaly (the cow with the liver and spleen spots)

Question 6

Where is Leishmania found?

Answer 6

In the deserts of North Africa and the middle east (hence the desert scene taking place here)

Question 7

What are the two treatments for Leishmaniasis?

Answer 7

• Stibogluconate (like the T-bone steak –get it?)

* Amphotericin (like the plague frogs everywhere)