Immunology
Harnessing the power of a parasite that can stop pain
For the first time, scientists have begun to figure out why the disfiguring skin lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis don't hurt.
Nov 30, 2023
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Leishmaniasis
Immunology
Uncovering the role of skin microbiome and immune response in cutaneous leishmaniasis
The parasitic disease leishmaniasis is found primarily in Central and South America, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and Central Asia and is transmitted to humans by a sand fly. An estimated 1.5 million new cases ...
Oct 24, 2023
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Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Digging deeper into how vaccines work against parasitic disease
Scientists have established the effectiveness of vaccines they developed to prevent the disfiguring skin disease leishmaniasis in animal studies, and Phase 1 human trial planning is in motion for the most promising candidate.
Aug 31, 2023
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22
Medical research
Predicting treatment outcome for leishmaniasis
For patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, a skin infection transmitted by a sand fly that can in some cases lead to painful and disfiguring ulcers, treatment can be grueling. The first-line therapy offered to many requires ...
Nov 20, 2019
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36
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Discovery of a new potential treatment for visceral leishmaniasis
A new preclinical candidate drug with the potential to treat visceral leishmaniasis, one of the world's major neglected diseases, has been discovered through a close collaboration between the University of Dundee, GSK and ...
Jul 25, 2018
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23
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
As 'flesh-eating' Leishmania come closer, a vaccine against them does, too
Parasites that ulcerate the skin, can disfigure the face, and may fatally mutilate its victim's internal organs are creeping closer to the southern edges of the United States.
Sep 13, 2017
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73
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Australian parasite discovery raises concern about neglected tropical diseases
A chance encounter in northern Australia with a previously undocumented parasite has allowed scientists to join important evolutionary dots, highlighting the need for closer monitoring of exotic and neglected tropical diseases.
Jan 13, 2017
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92
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Arsenic in India's water could cause resistance to visceral leishmaniasis treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Every year, visceral leishmaniasis infects about 500,000 people and kills about 41,000. Most deaths occur in India's Bihar region, where there is a high level of resistance to the antimony compounds used ...
Genetics
Genetics discovery to help fight 'black fever'
Scientists—including a geneticist at The University of Western Australia—are a step closer to developing a vaccine against a fatally infectious parasite carried in the bite of sandflies.
Jan 8, 2013
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Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Test detects co-infection by novel species of parasite in severe cases of visceral leishmaniasis
In recent years, physicians and scientists in parts of Brazil where visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic have seen rising numbers of cases of co-infection by Leishmania infantum and Crithidia, also a protozoan but hitherto ...
Nov 2, 2023
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Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly (subfamily Phlebotominae). Although the majority of the literature mentions only one genus transmitting Leishmania to humans (Lutzomyia) in the Americas, a 2003 study by Galati suggested a new classification for the New World sand flies, elevating several subgenera to the genus level. Elsewhere in the world, the genus Phlebotomus is considered the vector of leishmaniasis.
Most forms of the disease are transmissible only from animals (zoonosis), but some can be spread between humans. Human infection is caused by about 21 of 30 species that infect mammals. These include the L. donovani complex with three species (L. donovani, L. infantum, and L. chagasi); the L. mexicana complex with four main species (L. mexicana, L. amazonensis, and L. venezuelensis); L. tropica; L. major; L. aethiopica; and the subgenus Viannia with four main species (L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) guyanensis, L. (V.) panamensis, and L. (V.) peruviana). The different species are morphologically indistinguishable, but they can be differentiated by isoenzyme analysis, DNA sequence analysis, or monoclonal antibodies.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis is a severe form in which the parasites have migrated to the vital organs.
This text uses material from Wikipedia licensed under CC BY-SA
