Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar)

Leishmaniasis is protozoal disease caused by a hemoflagellate of the genus Leishmania and transmited by sand flies .The pathogenesis of leishmaniasis range from fatal infection of the visceral organs to mild cutaneous infection .It is found in three different forms, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar) (VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL).The natural transmission of Leishmania is carried out by certain species of sand fly of the genus Phlebotomus (Old World) or Lutzomyia (New World) , also the canids and wild rodents serve as reservoir hosts and it also can be transmitted congenitally or prentally.