Which Leishmania causes kala-azar?
Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoa parasite from over 20 Leishmania species. Over 90 sandfly species are known to transmit Leishmania parasites. There are 3 main forms of the disease: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases.
What is the drug of choice for kala-azar?
Treatment of kala-azar has been by use of pentavalent antimonials, mainly sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) and meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime). These medicines can only be administered through injection. They are toxic, with many side-effects and the treatment is given over a period of 30 days.
Is leish contagious?
Leishmaniasis is not contagious person to person. Sand fly bites are necessary to transfer the parasite from the sand fly to the human. The sand fly is the vector for the disease. The protozoan parasite has a life cycle that requires development in both the sand fly and a mammal (human, dogs and others).
What is the second largest parasitic killer in the world?
Kala azar (also known as visceral leishmaniasis) is the second largest parasitic killer in the world—only malaria is more deadly. Along with Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Where do sandflies breed?
Breeding sites of biting midges are commonly around the edge of water bodies or in decaying vegetable material. Adult female biting midges lay their eggs in a range of habitats including damp soil, moist decaying leaf material and muddy, sandy or vegetated substrates.
Is kala azar eradicated from India?
The eradication of kala azar in India is achievable and there are favorable circumstances for doing so. Humans are the only reservoir host in this region for the parasite causing the disease. The only way the disease spreads from human to human is by one insect in the region, Phlebotomus argentipes.
How old is Ivermectin?
Ivermectin was discovered in 1975 and first marketed as a veterinary medicine in 1981. Human applications followed in the late 1980s.
Why is kala azar called dum dum fever?
The agent of the disease was also first isolated in India by Scottish doctor William Leishman (who observed the parasite in spleen smears of a soldier who died of the disease in Dumdum, Calcutta, India – hence the name dumdum fever) and Irish physician Charles Donovan, working independently of each other.
What kind of disease is Kala azar disease?
What is Kala Azar Disease? Kala-Azar or Viscera Leishmaniasis is a slow progressing indigenous condition that is caused by a protozoan parasite. The disease-causing parasite belongs to the class or genus Leishmania. The parasite infects the reticuloendothelial system and may be found in abundance in bone marrow, spleen, and liver.
Which is the only vector of kala azar in India?
Sandfly of genus Phlebotomus argentipes are the only known vectors of kala-azar in India Indian Kala-azar has a unique epidemiological feature of being Anthroponotic; human is the only known reservoir of infection Female sandflies pick up parasite (Amastigote or LD bodies)while feeding on an infected human host.
Where are the parasites found in kala azar?
Kala-azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania The parasite primarily infects reticuloendothelial system and may be found in abundance in bone marrow, spleen and liver.
What kind of test is used for kala azar?
Serology tests: Different tests are available for diagnosis of Kala-azar. The mostly used tests are based on relative sensitivity, while operational feasibility involves Direct Agglutination Test (DAT), ELISA and rk39 dipstick. Aldehyde Test is usually applied but it is a nonspecific test.