aetiology of leishmaniasis
Last edited 09/2022 and last reviewed 09/2022
Leishmaniasis is a tropical and subtropical disease caused by an intracellular parasite transmitted to humans by the bite of a sand fly, mainly Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia (Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and part of South America); exceptionally, transmission has also been reported as a laboratory accident
- Leishmania amazonensis
- is responsible for the anergic diffuse cutaneous form and the cutaneous forms with disseminated lesions
- is responsible for the anergic diffuse cutaneous form and the cutaneous forms with disseminated lesions
- Leishmania chagasi
- causes visceral American leishmaniasis and has a wide distribution in Latin America, extending from Mexico to Argentina
- causes visceral American leishmaniasis and has a wide distribution in Latin America, extending from Mexico to Argentina
- L. mexicana
- is observed in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean Sea region, and Ecuador and produces muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis ("Espundia") and the classic cutaneous form known as chiclero's ulcer (gum tree harvester's ulcer)
- is observed in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean Sea region, and Ecuador and produces muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis ("Espundia") and the classic cutaneous form known as chiclero's ulcer (gum tree harvester's ulcer)
- Leishmania pifanoi
- is the causal agent of muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis in Venezuela
- is the causal agent of muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis in Venezuela
- Leishmania venezuelensis
- observed in the Venezuelan Andes
- observed in the Venezuelan Andes
- Leishmania donovani
- is responsible for VL in the Old World
- is responsible for VL in the Old World
- L. infantum
- causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in infants
- causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in infants
- L. tropica is the causal agent of CL
- Leishmania aethiopica is the causal agent of CL and muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis
Reference:
- Torres-Guerrero E, Quintanilla-Cedillo MR, Ruiz-Esmenjaud J, Arenas R. Leishmaniasis: a review. F1000Res. 2017 May 26;6:750.