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Y2 MCD - Microbiology - Laz COPY > Leishmania > Flashcards

Flashcards in Leishmania Deck (16)
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1
Q

What is the insect vector for leishmania?

A
  • Sandfly
2
Q

Inside the human host, which cells do the parasites replicate within?

A
  • Phagocytic cells:
    • Macrophages
    • Neutrophils
    • Monocytes
3
Q

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

A
  1. Promastigotes – found in the sandfly – they have a flagellum and they are motile
  2. Amastigotes – found within humans/other vertebrate hosts – they have resorbed their flagellum and are no longer motile – found in macrophages
4
Q

Which gender of sandflies takes blood meals?

A
  • Females – need blood to provide nutrition for eggs
5
Q

What are the four major forms of leishmaniasis?

A
  1. Visceral Leishmaniasis
  2. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
  3. Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
  4. Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis
6
Q

What is another name for visceral leishmaniasis?

A
  • Kala Azar (black fever)
7
Q

What are the features of visceral leishmaniasis?

A
  • Irregular fever
  • Weight loss
  • Enlarged liver and spleen
  • Anaemia
8
Q

What are some risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis?

A
  • Malnutrition
  • Immunosuppression (e.g. because of drugs)
  • HIV
9
Q

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

A
  • L. donovani
10
Q

How is visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed?

A
  • Visualisation of the amastigote parasite by microscopic examination of aspirates
  • Antibody detection (direct agglutination test - DAT)
11
Q

What are the treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis?

A
  • Sodium stibogluconate or meglumin antimoniate
  • Liposomal amphotericin B
12
Q

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

A
  • Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL)
13
Q

Describe the features of local cutaneous leishmaniasis

A
  • Heals spontaneously
  • Immunity from reinfection
  • NOTE: it can still leave disfiguring scars
14
Q

Describe the features of diffused cutaneous leishmaniasis

A
  • Disseminated lesions
  • Resembles leprosy
  • No spontaneous healing
  • Difficult to treat
  • Frequent relapses
15
Q

1) Which part of the body does mucocutaneous leishmaniasis typically affect?
2) Describe the features of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

A

1)

  • Mouth and nose

2)

  • Disfiguring
  • Destroys mucous membrane
  • No spontaneous healing
  • Frequent relapses
16
Q

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

A
  • L. aethiopica