Kala-azar is a chronic infection of reticuloendothelial system caused by flagellated protozoan, leishmania donovani injected into human host by the bite of the sand fly (phlebotomous) previously infected by biting and sucking the blood of a patient of leishmaniasis. It is characterized by irregular fever of long duration, large spleen and liver, anaemia, leucopenia and progressive emaciation. T...

couraging results, it was decided to a further extensive trial with this drug in certain hyperendemic kala-azar areas in the tea districts of Mangaldai, as an anti-kala-azar drug of such promising quality was indispensable, especially when, due to present war-time conditions, other pentavalent antimony compounds of proved value, e.g. solustibosan, neostibosan, etc., suitable for mass administra...

A 7-year-old boy presented with numerous asymptomatic whitish flat lesions of varying sizes over the whole body for last two years. Patient was diagnosed as kala-azar about 3 years previously, and was treated suboptimally. There was no other systemic complaints like fever, pain abdomen or photosensitivity. On examination, there were asymptomatic hypopigmented macules and patches over the face (...

Studies with 26 clones of L. donovani promastigotes derived from three different Indian isolates indicated that wild type parasites are mixture of stibanate sensitive and resistant cells. Both forms of the parasite were resistant to the drug. Infection with resistant parasites appears to be the primary reason of high rate of pentavalent antimony unresponsiveness among Indian kala-azar patients....

We report the case of a six-year-old Brazilian girl referred for splenomegaly who first presented with fever, asthenia, and weight loss. Geographical location, clinical exam, and blood laboratories suggested kala-azar. Serology confirmed kala-azar diagnosis, but direct evidence of the parasites was not made. A treatment by meglumine antimoniate is given under hospital surveillance for two weeks...

Only a few cases of Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis have been reported in Japan, especially recently. We describe a case of a 32-year-old woman who developed rose-colored nodules on her forearms two years after Kala-azar. A skin biopsy specimen from a nodule revealed not only granulomatous changes but also many amastigotes of Leishmania donovani in macrophages. Rose-colored nodules were als...

Recently while experimenting with solutions of various dye stuffs on kala-azar serum, we observed that when solutions of methylene blue were left in contact with kala-azar serum, the dye gradually decolourised. We have tried out various strengths of methylene blue solutions varying from 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 80,000 and obtained the most satisfactory results when working with a solution of 1 in 40,...

Sir,?Major P. Savage, i.m.s., in the June number of your journal lias recorded the apparent occurrence of indigenous kala-azar at Sanawar in the Simla Hills, where up to that time the presence of Phlcbotomus argcntipcs, the suspected carrier of kala-azar, had not been reported. It is, therefore, of interest to note that in a collection of Phlcbotomus from Sanawar village, kindly given me by Cap...

Antigenic characterization of the soluble fraction of axenic amastigotes of Leishmania donovani ( strain Dd8, causative agent of Indian kala-azar) and their comparison with promastigotes is reported. The axenic amastigotes were assessed for their immunological status employing anti-A2 monoclonal antibody which is extremely specific for L. donovani amastigotes. SDS-PAGE of 35[S] methionine label...

The immunological mechanisms underlying the susceptibility to disseminated visceral parasitism of mononuclear phagocytes in patients with kala-azar remain undefined. Resistance and susceptibility are correlated with distinct patterns of cytokine production in murine models of disseminated leishmanial disease. To assess lesional cytokine profiles in patients with kala-azar, bone marrow aspirates...