Answer:
Visceral leishmaniasis (black fever) is caused by a species of intracellular parasites called Leishmania donovani.
Explanation:
Microscopic species: Leishmania donovani
Disease: Visceral leishmaniasis (black fever)
Vector: Sandfly (Lutzomyia longipalpis).
Symptoms: Visceral leishmaniasis is a life-threatening disease that usually affects several internal organs such as spleen, liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, etc. It is caused by a species of intracellular parasites called Leishmania donovani which are transmitted to humans by the infected female sandfly (phlebotomine genus) bites. After the bite of the sandfly, the illness typically develops within months and causes recurrent fever, loss of appetite, paleness, weakness and weight loss with progressive emaciation. It also causes enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly) and the liver. The skin becomes dry, thin and scaly. The patient also suffers from anemia (low red blood cell count), leukopenia (low white blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and sometimes blackening of the skin on the face, hands, feet, and abdomen. So, visceral leishmaniasis is also known as black fever or kala-azar.
