Visceral leishmaniasis with special reference to Egypt [review and comment]

ABSTRACT

Leishmaniases comprise several diseases of wide diversity of manifestations caused by different species of the genus Leishmania. They are grouped under 3 main headings Cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania donovani complex which visceralize in man with a predilection for infecting cells in the viscera, particularly in the spleen and the main vectors, are Phlebotomus of the major group. These include L. d. donovani [Asia, mainly India and China], L. d. infantum [Mediterranean countries] infects mainly children, and L. d. chagasi [South America] infects adults and children. In this paper, the historical background of L. donovani and L. infantum with special reference to Egypt was given