Leishmaniasis: A Neglected Tropical Disease

Leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical disease in the world as declared by WHO. At least 89 countries are affected, risking lives of 350 million people resulting in 70,000 deaths annually. It is spread to human beings and animals by bite of sandflies of genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. The disease is more prevalent in the poverty-stricken populations. In Pakistan, the most affected province is KPK. Despite its global occurrence, it is not a very life-threatening disease except visceral leishmaniasis in which death can occur in immunocompromised patients. The only satisfactory treatment is through intravenous antimonials. Vaccine is not yet available but environmental control of sandfly can help in prevention of leishmaniasis. There is a dire need of improving the existing conventional therapy but the neglection of the disease has led to lack of financial support for the development of a novel drug.