Leishmania donovani
Quick Summary
Leishmania donovani is a species of flagellate protozoan that causes visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever. This parasitic infection is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected sand flies.12
The parasite has two forms: the leishmanial stage, which lives within vertebrate hosts like rodents and canines, and the leptomonad stage, found in the digestive tract of the sand fly. When an infected sand fly bites a human, it transmits the leptomonads, which then develop into the leishmanial stage within the host's cells, particularly macrophages.21
Visceral leishmaniasis primarily affects the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, leading to symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Without treatment, it is often fatal. Treatment involves antimicrobial and antifungal drugs, as well as antimony compounds.2
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