ETIOLOGY OF LEISHMANIASIS AND THE GALE

Etiology refers to the set causes or manner of causes of a disease condition.

OR

It can also refer to the investigations or attributions of the causes or reasons for something, often
expressed in terms of “historical or mythical explanations.

1) LEISHMANIASIS;
Is a parasitic, disease that is predominately found in parts of the tropics, sub-tropics and
southern Europe.
- This disease is caused when a female Phlebotomine sand fly, infected with the leis-mania
parasite bites a healthy individual, releasing the parasite into his/her blood streams.

Note; that the sand fly becomes infected by sucking blood from infected animals or persons infected
with the parasites.

- They do not make noise while flying.

- They are small in size, (an average sand fly is only about one forth the size of a mosquito or
even smaller.
- Some species of the leis-mania parasite, may also be spread via contaminated needles or
un-screened blood transfusion.
- Congenital transmission where it’s been spread from mother to child either during
pregnancy or birth.

Note; There are 2 most common types (forms) of leishmaniosis which are;

- CUTENEOUS LEISHMANIASIS; which affects the skin.

- VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS; which affects several organs of the body, usually the liver,
spleen, and bone marrow.
- Note that the incubation period is from 2 weeks to about 3 months.

ETIOLOGY OF THE GALE (SCABIES)

The gale, commonly called scabies, is a parasitic infection of the skin, caused by a parasite
(Mite) of the Sarcoptidae family.
- This disease is caused when a female sarcoptes, gets in direct contact with a healthy
individual, by means of direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
- When on the skin, the female sarcoptes makes a tunnel on the surface of the epidermis,
and lays her eggs.
- During this process, it is believed that the female sarcoptes produces secretions known
SALIVA which turn to irritate the skin causing itches.
- Note that, this disease is highly contagious, and skin-to-skin contact with just one infected
person is enough to bring down an entire family or community, if not properly managed.
- Its incubation period is 2 to 4 weeks.