Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The statement regarding the organism found intracellularly in erythrocytes is less accurate in the context of leishmaniasis. The causative agents of leishmaniasis, which are protozoa of the genus Leishmania, primarily invade macrophages and not erythrocytes (red blood cells). These parasites replicate within the host macrophages, leading to the characteristic symptoms of the disease.

In contrast, the other statements reflect accurate aspects of leishmaniasis. The organism is indeed transmitted by sandflies, which act as a vector for the disease. When these flies bite a host, they can transmit the protozoan. Additionally, leishmaniasis can cause a range of clinical manifestations, including cutaneous lesions, which are often among the first signs of infection, particularly in the cutaneous form of the disease.

Thus, the characterization of the organism being intracellularly located in erythrocytes does not align with the established scientific understanding of how Leishmania behaves in the host.