Spread of Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar)
Leishmaniasis is spread by the bite of infected sand flies (phlebotomine sandflies). A sandfly is very small, hard to see insect that flies silently. It has only about one-third the size of a typical mosquito. Its bite often gets unnoticed as it may be painless (Bites can also be painful). Sandflies are usually lively from dusk to dawn. They are less active during the hottest time of the day.
A sandfly becomes infected with the parasite when it bites an infected animal like a rodent, a dog, or while biting an infected individual. The parasite is then spread by this infected sandfly to other animals and people.
Other less common modes of spread are:
- Blood transfusions
- Contaminated needles
- From pregnant mother to her baby
