​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (Leishmania species)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (Leishmania species) 
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis is a medical condition characterized by the presence of lesions affecting both the skin and mucous membranes.
Leishmania species
Several distinct species, such as L donovani, L tropica, L mexicana, and L braziliensis. This organism is an invasive flagellate that can be found in both blood and tissue.
There are two distinct forms: the infective form with flagella, known as promastigote, and the nonflagellated form that lives inside cells, known as amastigote.
It is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects mononuclear phagocytes.

The sandfly serves as the vector for transmission. Several mammalian species can act as reservoirs.

Medical or pertaining to the practice of medicine. There are three primary clinical syndromes: Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala azar, is caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani. This parasite infiltrates macrophages, which are then transported to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The disease is characterized by a gradual onset of fever, chills, anemia, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and a decrease in the number of white blood cells. The disease duration is extended (spanning from months to years) and can lead to secondary infections, cachexia, and final mortality. Cutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as oriental sore or chiclero ulcers, is a skin infection caused by L tropica and L mexicana. It is characterized by the formation of a papule and subsequent ulceration at the site of infection. 

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as espundia, is a condition caused by the parasite L braziliensis. It is characterized by the deformation of soft tissues, particularly in the nose and mouth, and frequently leads to other infections.

Amastigote forms are tested in lymph node aspirates, blood, spleen, liver, or bone marrow puncture (for L donovani), or in lymph node aspirates, scrapings, and biopsies from skin lesions (for L tropica, L mexicana, and L braziliensis). Leishmanin skin tests yield good results upon recovery, but display negative results during the presence of ongoing disease.
There are additional serologic testing available.

Sodium stibogluconate, a kind of pentavalent antimonial, is employed for therapeutic purposes. Prevention entails the utilization of insect repellents, reducing outside activities between the hours of twilight to morning, and employing physical barriers such as fine-mesh bed netting and protective gear to avoid being bitten by sandflies.