Final answer:
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania, affecting people in 90 countries, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. It presents mainly in three forms: cutaneous, visceral, and mucosal, with visceral being the most severe, leading to organ failures if left untreated. It's different from other notable parasitic diseases such as Malaria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leishmaniasis is a disease relatively widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, and is caused by approximately 20 different species of Leishmania, which are protozoan parasites transmitted by sand fly vectors such as Phlebotomus spp. and Lutzomyia spp. Humans and various animals can serve as reservoirs for these parasites.
The illness presents in three major clinical forms: cutaneous, visceral, and mucosal leishmaniasis. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is characterized by the formation of sores at the site of the insect bite. They can start out as papules or nodules before becoming large ulcers. Visceral leishmaniasis affects various organ systems and causes abnormal enlargement of the liver and spleen. Symptoms include irregular fevers, anemia, liver dysfunction, and weight loss. If left untreated, it is typically fatal.
It is different from other parasitic diseases like African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness), Chagas disease, and malaria.
Learn more about Leishmaniasis