Question

What is the etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis? How is the disease transmitted and what are its typical manifestations?

Answer 1

Cutaneous leishmaniasis also known as oriental sore is the most common type of leishmaniasis that affect humans. It is an skin in infection caused by a single-celled parasite which gets transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandfly. This disease is zoonosis i.e. it gets naturally transmitted from vertebrate animals to human.

The hallmark of cutaneous leishmaniasis is skin lesions, which spontaneously gets healed in 2-10 months. Inoculation occurs after an infected fly bites the exposed areas of the body. Incubation occuring over months to weaks is followed by appearance of erythematous papule, which later gets evolved into ulcers. The lesions are usually painless.