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Diseases » Leishmaniasis » Contagiousness

Is Leishmaniasis Contagious?

Contents

Discussion about contagion of Leishmaniasis
About contagion and contagiousness of Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis: Introduction

Discussion about Contagion of Leishmaniasis:

Leishmaniasis is spread by the bite of some types of phlebotomine sand flies. Sand flies become infected by biting an infected animal (for example, a rodent or dog) or person. Since sand flies do not make noise when they fly, people may not realize they are present. Sand flies are very small and may be hard to see; they are only about one-third the size of typical mosquitos. Sand flies usually are most active in twilight, evening, and night-time hours (from dusk to dawn). Sand flies are less active during the hottest time of the day. However, they will bite if they are disturbed, such as when a person brushes up against the trunk of a tree where sand flies are resting. Rarely, leishmaniasis is spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. Leishmaniasis also can be spread by blood transfusions or contaminated needles. (Source: excerpt from Leishmania Infection: DPD)

About contagion and contagiousness:

Contagion and contagiousness refers to how easily the spread of Leishmaniasis is possible from one person to another. Other words for contagion include "infection", "infectiousness", "transmission" or "transmissability". Contagiousness has nothing to do with genetics or inheriting diseases from parents. For an overview of contagion, see Introduction to Contagion.