Morphology and life cycle of leishmania donovani

1. MORPHOLOGY AND LIFE
CYCLE OF LEISHMANIA
DONOVANI

2. Leishmania Donovani.
 L. Donovani causes visceral
leishmaniasis
 It is also known as kala azar and black
fever.
 It is found at dum dum , calcutta thats
why it is also known as dum dum
fever.

3. Morphology.
 The parasite exists in two forms .
 a. Amastigote form ; In humans and
other mammals.
 b. Promastigote form ; In sandfly and
artificial culture.

4. Amastigote form.
 Aflagellar stage also called L-D body.
 Round or oval in shape .
 2-4 micro meter in length .
 Seen in reticulo endothelial cell of
vetebrate host. i.e man ,dog and other
mammals .
 Nucleus usually situated in the middle
of the cells or along the sides of the
cell wall

5. Contd...
 Kinetoplast lies at the right angle to
the nucleus .
 Axoneme is delicate filament
extending from the kinetoplast to the
margine of the body and represents
the root of the flagellum .

6. Promastigote form.
 Flagellar stage .
 Seen in digestive tract of sandfly.
 Spindle shaped.
 Measures 15-20 micro meter in length
and 1-2 micro meter in breadth.
 There is no undulating membrane.

7. Contd...
 Nucleus is situated centrally.
 Kinetoplast lies transversely near the
anterior end.
 The flagellum is single delicate and
measures 15-28 micro meter .
 A vacuole is present near the root of
the flagellum

9. LIFE CYCLE.
 Leishmania donovani completes its life
cycle in two host
 a. Definitive host ; man , dog and
other mammals
 b. Vector ; female sandfly (
phlebotomus species)
 Infective form ; promastigote form
present in midgut of female sandfly