Leishmania infantum (also L. donovani infantum ) is a species of flagellate parasitic protists of the genus Leishmania , the causative agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (childhood leishmaniasis). Representatives of the canine family are a natural reservoir , mosquitoes ( Lutzomyia , Phlebotomus ) are the carriers . Distributed mainly in the Mediterranean basin and Latin America . A synonym is widespread in the New World - Leishmania chagasi : earlier it was believed that these are different species, but both isoenzyme and molecular biological analysis showed that these two species are indistinguishable. Along with L. donovani, it is included in the L. donovani complex [1] .
| Leishmania infantum |
Amastigotes of Leishmania infantum in a microscopic smear of a bone marrow of a dog ( Giemsa stain ). |
| Scientific classification |
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| Subclass : | Metakinetoplastina |
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| International scientific name |
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Leishmania infantum Nicolle , 1908 |
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