Pathological changes of different organs due to Kala-azar

1.. Spleen

a)      Splenomegaly

b)      Thickened splenic capsule

c)      Consistency – soft

d)     Cut surface shows congestion and ;dull red or chocolate colour .

e)      Microscopically

i)                    Vascular spaces are filled up with blood .

ii)                  Increased reticular cells and L.D body are markedly present .

iii)                Malpighian corpuscles disappear .

 2.. Liver

i)                    Hepatomegaly

ii)                  Cut surface shows nutmeg appearance .

iii)                Microscopically –

a)      Kupffer’s cells are packed with LD bodies and the size and number of the cell are highly increased

b)      Sinusoides are filled up with blood .

c)      There is no changes of fibrous tissue .

  3.. Bone marrow

i)                    There will be extensive hyperplasia of reticuloendothelial tissue

ii)                  Due to the disturbance of haemopoietic activities of bone marrow , there will be leucopenia particularly neutropenia .

iii)                Microscopically –

a)      L.D bodies will be present

b)      Parasitised macrophage cell present .

4.. Lymph node – L.D body may be present in the lymph node .

5.. Intestine -  intestinal ulcers may be present  in case of kala-azar but this is due to secondary infection .

6.. Anaemia in kala-azar – There will be normocytic and orthochromic anaemia . But there may be macrocytic hyperchromic anaemia or aplitic anaemia in kala-azar .

7.. Jaundice in kala-azar – Jaundice may be produced due to damage of liver cell .