Spotlight on leishmaniasis in India and the Middle East

摘要

Leishmaniasis is anancient parasitic diseasespread by the bite ofan infected femalephlebotomine sand ?y.This neglected disease,which predominantlya?ects the very poorest,can manifest as threedistinct forms dependingon the Leishmania speciestransmitted: visceral(internal organ damage),mucocutaneous (destructionto mucosal membranesin nose and mouth) andcutaneous (disfguringskin ulcers). In this article,we brie?y review thecurrent status ofleishmaniasis in Indiaand the Middle East withinthe context of diseaseelimination.