Abstract

LEISHMANIASIS: A REVIEW

Swarupa Vijay Sawale*, A. A. Surwade, M. A. Chaudhary and T. A. Deshmukh

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a tropical and subtropical disease caused by an intracellular parasite transmitted to humans by the bite of a sand fly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leishmaniasis is one of the seven most important tropical diseases and it represents a serious world health problem that presents a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations with a potentially fatal outcome. Nearly 10% of the world’s population is at risk of acquiring a form of leishmaniasis. Worldwide it is estimated that there are 12million active cases of leishmaniasis, with 2 million new cases occurring each year. Many drugs are used in treatment, but the only effective treatment is achieved with current pentavalent antimonials.

Keywords: Leishmaniasis, cutaneous-chondral, chiclero’s ulcer, kala-azar.