Index >> Eukaryotes Microbes >>Leishmaniasis Kal Azar Black Fever

The disease is characterised by infection of the phagocytes of the body's reticuloendothelial system (RES). These include the white blood cells and various tissue phagocytes called macrophages, which are found in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes and other organs. When the phagocytes engulf the parasites, the latter multiply within phagocytes cytoplasm causing it to burst .

The new parasites are then engulfed by other phagocytes and the cycle is repeated.Symptoms are fever, swelling of lymph nodes, especially in the neck. and progressive anemia, weakness and emaciation. As the number of phagocytes declines the bone marrow attempts to replace them at the expense of other white blood cells. The lowered white blood cell count is referred to as leukopenia. The treatment includes antimony compounds and either of two normally antifungal agents, nystatin or amphotericin B