Visceral Leishmaniasis
Context
- Indian researchers have developed a non-invasive, easy to administer, cost-effective, and patient compliant potential therapeutic strategy against Visceral Leishmaniasis.
About
- Leishmaniasis is a wide array of clinical manifestations caused by parasites of the trypanosome genus Leishmania.
- It is caused by Leishmania donovani (India and Eastern Africa), L. infantum (Mediterranean area), and L. chagasi, which is transmitted by the bite of small blood-sucking sandflies Phlebotomus, and Sergentomyia vectors.
- It occurs most frequently in the tropics and sub-tropics of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and southern Europe.
- The disease can present in three main ways: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral.Visceral leishmaniasis (VL).
- VL is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world (after malaria).
- It is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions annually.
- Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is transmitted by the bite of female Phlebotomine sandflies.
- The parasite migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen (hence "visceral"), and bone marrow, and, if left untreated, will almost always result in the death of the host.
- Signs and symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and substantial swelling of the liver and spleen. Of particular concern, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is the emerging problem of HIV/VL co-infection.
- There is no perfect vaccine or suitable drug to eradicate leishmaniasis completely.
- Upendranath Brahmachari synthesised urea stibamine (carbostibamide) in 1922 and determined that it was an effective substitute for the other antimony-containing compounds in the treatment of VL.
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