Challenges in HIV and visceral leishmania co-infection: future research directions.

摘要

We agree with the research issues raised by Ejara et at. (2010) in their letter concerning our paper 'Challenges in HIV and Visceral Leishmania Co-Infection: Future Research Directions' (Hurissa et al. 2010). Clinical trials to optimize the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) with or without HIV co-infection in East Africa are underway through the Leishmaniasis East African Platform (LEAP), a regional network supported by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (T)NDi). However, we agree that further and a larger pool of studies and an increased concerted effort of scientists and research funders at regional and global level are needed to answer the questions raised. Indeed, new interventions and novel approaches are needed to tackle the problem of relapse and to achieve immune reconstitution in a more effective way than could be achieved by antiretroviral therapy alone.