VIABLE LEISHMANIA DONOVANI IN NASAL AND ORAL SECRETIONS OF PATIENTS WITH KALA-AZAR AND THE BEARING OF THIS FINDING ON THE TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE

Abstract

Smears from the nasal cavities of 15 kala-azar patients were examined; in 9, typical Leish-man-Donovan bodies were found. Smears from the surface of the tonsil and from the saliva in 1 case contained leishmania. The tonsils of this patient, who died as the result of kala-azar and secondary infection, at autopsy were massively infected with Leishman-Donovan bodies. Leishmania in the nasal discharge of 2 patients were shown by inoculation into susceptible animals to be viable and capable of producing infection. Thus a rich source of infective material from a large proportion of patients with kala-azar is available for direct transmission of the disease. This is perhaps the most important natural mode of transmission.