ISSN 2756-3391
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-011, September, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Detection of Leishmania in human blood and tissue exudate ingested by Tunga penetrans
Elizabeth Sentongo1*, Samuel Kalungi2 and Jacinto Amandua3
1Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
2Department of Pathology, Mulago National Referral Hospital P. O. Box 7051 Kampala, Uganda.
3Department of Clinical Services, Ministry of Health P. O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda.
Accepted 16 September, 2020
Abstract
Communities in Uganda are experiencing a multiparasitism, blood microscopy often reveals Leishmania and microfilaria in patients with anaemia, haemorrhage and splenomegaly. Many are likely asymptomatic and probably exposed to insect vectors. We examined the blood and tissue exudate ingested by Tunga penetrans, from relatively healthy eastern Ugandans who had been afflicted by sand fleas in 2010. Comparison was thereafter made with Giemsa-stained blood and bone marrow aspirate smears from patients admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital. In histology preparations of formalin-preserved paraffin-embedded enucleate stained with haematoxylin and eosin, were cross sections with columnar lining containing a pink substance. Within the substance were numerous lobular and circular organelles, representing nuclei of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear white blood cells. Clustered about the nuclei were translucent spheres containing two spots; one large and dark, the other small and red. No microfilaria were seen. In patients’ blood smears, where microfilaria were also demonstrable, the spheres clustered inside monocytes and in bone marrow aspirate smears they were Leishman-Donovan bodies. The findings, besides indicating an inflammatory reaction of the host, implied a cutaneous and/or systemic leishmanial infection. Persons with Leishmania in their body fluids can infect female sand flies or develop visceral, cutaneous or mucocutaneous disease.
Key words: Tungiasis, leishmaniasis, haematophagy, asymptomatic carriage.