LEISHMANIA MAJOR Meaning and
Definition
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Leishmania major is a parasitic protozoan belonging to the genus Leishmania, which causes the infectious disease known as cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is endemic in many regions across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, particularly arid and semi-arid areas. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus.
The life cycle of Leishmania major involves two main stages: the promastigote stage and the amastigote stage. Promastigotes are the infective stage found in the sandfly's gut, while amastigotes are the intracellular stage, residing and multiplying within the host's phagocytic cells, such as macrophages. The parasite is capable of evading the immune system and multiplying extensively, resulting in the development of characteristic skin lesions.
Symptoms of Leishmania major infection usually appear within weeks to months after being bitten by an infected sandfly. These can include skin ulcers or sores, typically found on exposed body parts, such as the face, arms, or legs. Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major is generally considered self-healing, but may lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement if left untreated.
Diagnosis of Leishmania major infection involves clinical evaluation, microscopic examination of skin scrapings or tissue samples, and/or molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the parasite's DNA.
Treatment for Leishmania major infection often involves antimonials, such as sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimoniate, administered through intramuscular or intravenous injection. Other available treatments include miltefosine, paromomycin,
Common Misspellings for LEISHMANIA MAJOR
- keishmania major
- peishmania major
- oeishmania major
- lwishmania major
- lsishmania major
- ldishmania major
- lrishmania major
- l4ishmania major
- l3ishmania major
- leushmania major
- lejshmania major
- lekshmania major
- leoshmania major
- le9shmania major
- le8shmania major
- leiahmania major
- leizhmania major
- leixhmania major
- leidhmania major
- leiehmania major
Etymology of LEISHMANIA MAJOR
The word "Leishmania" is derived from the name of Sir William Boog Leishman, an Irish pathologist and army physician who discovered the protozoan parasite responsible for the disease known as leishmaniasis. Leishman made significant contributions to the understanding of tropical medicine during his career.
The term "major" in "Leishmania major" refers to the strain or species of the parasite. Leishmania major is one of the species of Leishmania that is known to cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, a skin infection characterized by ulcers. The designation of "major" likely indicates its significance or prevalence as a cause of the disease.
