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==Overview==
==Overview==
''Leishmania spp.'' are intracellular parasites of [[Macrophage|macrophages]] from the same family as ''Trypanosoma spp.''. These organisms parasitise human, dogs and wild animals throughout southern Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. The infection is transmitted by sandflies. Infection can cause both cutaneous and visceral disease. Three types of ''Leishmania spp.'' are described;
''Leishmania spp.'' are intracellular parasites of [[Macrophage|macrophages]] from the same family as ''Trypanosoma spp.''. These organisms parasitise human, dogs and wild animals throughout southern Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. The infection is transmitted by sandflies. Infection can cause both cutaneous and visceral disease. Three types of ''Leishmania spp.'' are described;
# Hypoplaria - found in lizards that ingest the sandfly intermediate host. Development occurs in the hindgut of the fly.
# '''Hypoplaria''' - found in lizards that ingest the sandfly intermediate host. Development occurs in the hindgut of the fly.
# Peripylaria - found in mammals and lizards, development occurs in the fore- and hindgut of the fly.
# '''Peripylaria''' - found in mammals and lizards, development occurs in the fore- and hindgut of the fly.
# Suprpylaria - found only in mammals transmitted by the bite of a sandfly, development occurs in the fore- and midgut of the fly.
# '''Suprpylaria''' - found only in mammals transmitted by the bite of a sandfly, development occurs in the fore- and midgut of the fly.
==Recognition==
==Recognition==
''Leishmania spp.'' are ovoid shaped parasites containing a rod shaped 'kinetoplast'. The kinetoplast is associated with a rudimentary flagellum that does not extened beyond the cell margin. The position of the kinetoplast changes as the parasite changes between life stages. Once ingested by a [[Biting Flies#Psychodidae|sand fly]] the parasite takes the promastigote form and the kinetoplast moves the the posterior of the cell.
==Life Cycle==
*Transmitted by blood sucking [[Psychodidae|sand flies]]
*Transmitted by blood sucking [[Psychodidae|sand flies]]
**''Phlebotomus'' spp. in the Old World
**''Phlebotomus'' spp. in the Old World