Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease spread by sandflies that causes a range of clinical manifestations. William Leishman and Charles Donovan discovered Leishmania donovani parasites in the spleens of soldiers who died of Kala-azar fever in India. Microscopic examination of tissue aspirates or biopsies remains the gold standard for diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis by demonstrating the characteristic intracellular Leishmania donovani amastigotes within macrophages. Definitive diagnosis relies on identifying the parasites through microscopy after staining smears from sites such as bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes.

1. LAB DIAGNOSIS OF LEISHMANIASIS
MADHUSMITA ROY
1ST SEM
M.Sc. MLST
RKMVERI

2. (1)

3. Leishmania is a genus of Trypanosomatid protozoa
, which causes a fatal vector borne parasitic
diseases called Leishmaniasis. It is spread by the
bite of sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus in the
Old World and of the genus Lutzomiya in the New
World Leishmaniasis.
INTRODUCTION
(2)

4. In November 1900,
The Scottish
Pathologist William
Boog Leishman
discovered
Leishmania Donovani
in spleen smear of a
soldier who died of
fever at Dum Dum ,
India. So that the
diseases also known
as Dum Dum fever or
Kala-azar.
(3)

5. Charles Donovan also
recognized in other
Kala- azar patients and
published his discovery
a few weeks after Sir
Leishman. After
examining the parasite
using Leishman’s stain,
these amastigotes
were known as
Leishman – Donovan
bodies.
(4)

6. Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease
Leishmaniasis is a globally
important neglected disease ,
affecting approximately two
million people every year. For
most people infection results in
a slow - to - heal skin ulcer. In
others , however the parasite
targets the lever , spleen , and
bone marrow , 70,000 deaths
annually.
(5)

7. Classification of Leishmaniasis
(6)

8. Classification Based On Infection
Depending on the extent and severity of involvement ,
infections in the human host can be classified as –
 Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
• New World – L.braziliensis , L.mexicana
• Old World –L.major, L.tropica , L.aethiopica , L.infantum
 Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis – L.mexicana ,
L.aethiopica
 Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis – L.braziliensis ,
L.aethiopica
 Visceral Leishmaniasis – L.donovani (Kala- azar) ,
L.infantum
 PKDL – Post Kala – azar dermal leishmaniasis
(7)

9. (8)

10. LIFE CYCLE:
(9)

11. PATHOGENESIS OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS
• The flagellated promastigotes of Leishmania
donovani are introduced by an insect bite.
• After entering macrophages of the
reticuloendothelial system, these forms
change into amastigotes, which multiply in
phagocytic cells.
• Released amastigotes disseminate
hematogenously and invade
reticuloendothelial cells in the spleen, liver,
lymph nodes, bone marrow, and skin.
(10)

12. INCUBATION AND CLINICAL SYMPTOM
Incubation Period is 6 – 8 months
Symptoms:-
• weakness, dizziness, weight loss,
diarrhea, and constipation.
• Fever, may spike twice daily;
• chills and sweating.
• Hepatosplenomegaly
• Anemia and leukopenia.
• bleeding from the gingivae, nose, or GI
tract,
• ecchymoses and petechiae on the
skin.
(11)

13. Laboratory Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis
Microscopy (Detects LD bodies)
 Splenic Aspiration
 Bone Marrow Aspiration
 Lymph Node Aspirates
 Liver Biopsy
 Peripheral Blood Smear
 Biopsy of various organs
Culture(Detects Promastigotes)
 NNN medium
 Schneider’s liquid medium
(12)

14. Microscopy: Demonstration
of amastigotes inside the
macrophages which is also
known as ‘Leishman Donovan
Bodies’(LD Bodies). is the gold
standard method for the
diagnosis of Visceral
Leishmaniasis. Smears should
be stained with Leishman,
Giemsa or Wright stains.
(13)

15. Splenic Aspiration-
(14)

16. Lymph Node Aspiration:
(15)

17. (15)
Bone Marrow Aspiration :

18. Peripheral Blood Smear:
(16)