Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Visceral leishmaniasis

  • Sand flies, leishmaniasis, and kala-azar

    Sand flies are about three millimeters long and gray, brownish or golden, with long, piercing mouthparts adapted for sucking blood from their hosts. These seemingly innocuous creatures, classified as belonging to the genus Phlebotomus or Lutzomyia, have long legs and hairy wings held in a vertical V-shape when at rest. They seek moist resting places…