Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection that gets transmitted via the bite of sand flies that are infected. This infectious disease is common in countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sudan, and Ethiopia and in some parts of Saudi Arabia. This causes painful sores on the skin that takes many months or even years to heal completely. This kind of sores may leave a scar permanently on the skin. Two types of leishmaniasis are available and this disease can be managed by effective medications.
Causes :
Leishmaniasis is caused by parasite by Leishmania genus protozoan. When the female sand fly that carries the parasite of Leishmania bites any person the infection gets transmitted. Often the infection spreads through travelers or tourists who after getting infected travels to other countries. The primary host of the parasite is humans and sometimes it also affects rodents and canids.
Prevalence :
Each year around 1 million fresh cases of leishmaniasis are reported to occur in many countries like India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Sudan and Ethiopia. Several deaths are reported in these cases every year due to visceral leishmaniasis. This disease often affects the economically weaker section of the society who does not have even basic amenities like housing and water facility.
Types :
- Two major types of leishmaniasis are known to occur. One is visceral leishmaniasis in which the parasite affects the internal organs of the body like liver, kidney and intestine. Such cases are reported from India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Nepal and Brazil.
- The other type is known by name cutaneous leishmaniasis in which the parasite affects only the skin sparing other parts of the body. Such cases are seen in countries like Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Afghanistan, Syria and Peru. Military troops of the USA force residing in these places for longer duration are prone to develop this infection.
Mode of Transmission :
Parasites belonging to Leishmania species cause this infection. More than 21 species are known to cause infection in humans. The sand flies often carry this protozoan and when it bites the humans, it injects some parasites into the body that are absorbed by blood cells. Once inside the body, the parasite multiples and produces more numbers thereby infecting other tissues and organs. Sand fly can get this parasite while biting the infected people and animals.