Common Name(s):
Kala-azar
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Leishmaniasis (CLINICAL)
Description
Leishmaniasis is transmitted through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sandflies and presents in localized cutaneous, mucosal, or systemic visceral forms. The parasites obligatorily infect host macrophages, allowing them to evade standard immune detection and disseminate through the reticuloendothelial system. It primarily affects impoverished populations living in tropical and subtropical regions.