LEISHMANIA INFANTUM Meaning and
Definition
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Leishmania infantum is a species of parasitic protozoa that belongs to the genus Leishmania. It is commonly known as the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, a serious and potentially fatal disease in humans.
Leishmania infantum is transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies, predominantly of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. The parasite primarily affects organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, leading to systemic infection and the characteristic symptoms of fever, weight loss, enlarged organs, and anemia.
The life cycle of Leishmania infantum involves two main forms: promastigotes and amastigotes. Promastigotes reside within the gut of the sandfly vector, while amastigotes reproduce inside the macrophages of the mammalian host. The transmission occurs when an infected sandfly takes a blood meal, introducing the promastigotes into the host. These promastigotes then transform into amastigotes, which replicate within the host cells, causing the disease.
Leishmania infantum is particularly prevalent in regions with a Mediterranean climate, such as Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It mainly affects individuals with weakened immune systems, such as young children, elderly people, or those living with HIV/AIDS. Diagnosis is usually made through laboratory tests analyzing tissue samples or by direct visualization of the parasites under a microscope.
Treatment of Leishmania infantum infection often involves antiparasitic medications, such as pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, or miltefosine. However, prevention by using insect repellents, wearing protective clothing
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A species morphologically indistinguishable from L. donovani, found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and peripheral blood in dogs and in children suffering from canine and infantile kala-azar respectively.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for LEISHMANIA INFANTUM
- keishmania infantum
- peishmania infantum
- oeishmania infantum
- lwishmania infantum
- lsishmania infantum
- ldishmania infantum
- lrishmania infantum
- l4ishmania infantum
- l3ishmania infantum
- leushmania infantum
- lejshmania infantum
- lekshmania infantum
- leoshmania infantum
- le9shmania infantum
- le8shmania infantum
- leiahmania infantum
- leizhmania infantum
- leixhmania infantum
- leidhmania infantum
- leiehmania infantum
Etymology of LEISHMANIA INFANTUM
The etymology of the word "Leishmania infantum" can be understood by breaking down the individual components of the term:
1. Leishmania: The term "Leishmania" derives from the name of the Scottish physician Sir William Boog Leishman (1865-1926). Leishman was a pathologist who made significant contributions in the field of tropical medicine, particularly in the study of diseases caused by protozoa. This genus of parasites was named after him to honor his work.
2. infantum: The term "infantum" is derived from Latin and means "infant" or "child". In the context of Leishmania infantum, it refers to the fact that this particular species of the Leishmania parasite primarily affects young individuals, particularly children.
