Domain Eukaryota Rank Species | Higher classification Leishmania | |
Similar Leishmania, Trypanosomatida, Lutzomyia, Phlebotominae, Phlebotomus | ||
Signs and symptoms
Within a few months of infection, an ulcer forms. After healing there is an asymptomatic phase for three to twenty years. At this time, the parasite causes oral and nasal lesions causing severe damage to the mucus membranes.
Treatment
Pentostam, Liposomal and lipid complex preparations of Amphotericin B, or paromomycin can be given.
Sexual reproduction
Leishmania braziliensis, like other species of Leishmania rely on asexual reproduction in the intermediate mammalian host to greatly increase population density. Such reproduction is often witnessed in mononuclear phagocytes (dendritic cells, monocytes, neutrophils) of the mammalian host, with the macrophages being the target white blood cell of the parasite. Recently, it has been hypothesized through two studies that certain members of Leishmania genus (e.g. L. braziliensis) are capable of sexual reproduction in the gut of the sand-fly vector. More work is needed to establish a clear pattern of sexual reproduction in the genus.