Leishmaniasis Biodiversity Paper

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Introduction
Not many people in the United States have come in contact with a disease called Leishmaniasis; however, in southern Europe and the tropics of the world this disease is a force to be reckoned with. Leishmania spp., also known more commonly as cutaneous leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis, is a bacterium causing a parasitic disease either on the surface of the skin or within the body in internal organs. An experiment was conducted to see if leishmaniasis should be included in the CDC clinical category C for the definition of AIDS.

Background
Leishmania spp. belongs to the archaebacteria and eubacteria kingdom. It is a bacterium causing a parasitic disease found in the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe and rarely ever found in the United States (Parasites - Leishmaniasis). It is prokaryotic and unicellular. Its energy source comes from synthesizing and consuming its own energy from sunlight, inorganic and organic compounds, and also autotrophs and heterotrophs. It is asexual and can use binary fission for reproduction. Since it is a parasite it attacks other organisms as well as using a chemical defense. The bacteria can live and survive in harsh environments with or without any oxygen. There is a cell wall present. Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with Leishmania parasites, which are spread by the bite of infected sand flies (Parasites - Leishmaniasis). The most common forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis. Cutaneous causes skin sores whereas visceral affects several internal organs, including the spleen, liver, and bone marrow (Parasites - Leishmaniasis). Cutaneous can sometimes be a silent infection, without any symptoms or signs. People who develop clinical evide...

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...ate stages of the HIV virus, as proven by the case study and the results figure. Visceral leishmaniasis in the HIV-infected population should be included in the CDC clinical category C for the definition of AIDS.

Works Cited

Parasites - Leishmaniasis. (2013, January 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/leishmaniasis/
Pasquau, F., Ena, J., Sanchez, R., Cuadrado, J., & Amador, C. (2005). Leishmaniasis as an opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients: determinants of relapse and mortality in a collaborative study of 228 episodes in a Mediterreanean region. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 24(6), 411-418. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://search.proquest.com.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/biologicalsciences/docview/849110844/E9FD10EC88D74913PQ/4?accountid=13965

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