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Leishmaniasis

 

Leishmaniasis is an important vector-borne disease with approximately two million new cases every year and one tenth of the world's population at risk of infection.  The disease is endemic throughout  parts of Europe, North Africa, the middle east and central  and south America and occurs in epidemics with high mortality in East Africa, parts of the Indian subcontinent and South America. 

 

Leishmania is exclusively transmitted by Phlebotomine sandflies. The greatest concentration of sand flies is in South America, where Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis (the most serious form of the disease) in both sylvatic and peridomestic environments.

 

Colonisation of urban areas by L. longipalpis is believed to be a significant factor in the recent increase of visceral leishmaniasis in South America.  Even in sub-tropical regions where the disease has not traditionally been as important, its sub-clinical status has been elevated to clinical disease by association with HIV infection.

 

Environmental changes including global warming are expected to change the distribution of  these vectors, with for example the mediterranean vectors extending their range to N. Europe.  There are no vaccines available and chemotherapy is principally using antimonial-based drugs developed nearly 100 years ago. Significant resistance to antimonials has been reported in recent years. Insect vector control is likely to be an important component of leishmaniasis containment in the foreseeable future.

 

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©2008  This site maintained by Rod Dillon, last updated 17-Dec-2008