Review on Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a world wide spread parasitic zoonotic diseases caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania and it is transmitted to animals and human being through the bite of Phlebotamus female sand flies, not between humans. Leishmania are obligatory intracellular protozoan mononuclear phagocytes. Worldwide, there are 2 million new cases each year and 1/10 of the world's population is at risk of infection. This paper reviews leshmaniasis with the objective of highlighting etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical sign, diagnosis, treatment and control and prevention of leshmaniasis and also its public health and economic impact. The disease mostly occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The disease shows different clinical signs. There are several methods of laboratory diagnosis, including parasitological, immunological and molecular. Different forms of treatments are available including oral, parenteral, and topical medications. To date, there are no vaccines against leishmaniasis and control measures rely on chemotherapy to alleviate disease and on vector control to reduce transmission Finally Health education via the public media and training should be implemented by international organizations and governmental agencies in collaboration with research institutions. Fully protection during transmission season, using bed nets and insecticides and reservoirs' control is recommended for personal protection.