Leishmania donovani infantum is a subspecies of the parasitic protozoan known as Leishmania, which causes the disease visceral leishmaniasis in humans. It belongs to the Trypanosomatidae family and is mainly found in Mediterranean countries, including southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is a severe form of the disease that affects internal organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Leishmania donovani infantum is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies of the Phlebotomus genus. These sandflies acquire the parasite by feeding on the blood of infected animals or humans.
The lifecycle of Leishmania donovani infantum begins when the infective form (promastigotes) of the parasite is injected into the human bloodstream during a sandfly bite. These promastigotes are then engulfed by macrophages, a type of white blood cell, where they transform into the intracellular form (amastigotes). Within macrophages, amastigotes multiply and spread to various organs, leading to the characteristic symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis.
Symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani infantum include persistent fever, weight loss, enlarged spleen and liver, anemia, and general weakness. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal.
Diagnosis of Leishmania donovani infantum infection involves the detection of the parasite in patient samples, through methods such as microscopic examination of tissue samples, culturing, or molecular techniques. Treatment typically involves the use of antiparasitic drugs, such as pentavalent
