Commentary
We’re providing this paper as an update on the status of leishmaniasis. We captured these statements for animal health pros to consider:
- Canine leishmaniasis is expanding to the Northern Hemisphere, where it is barely known, due to climate change and the importation of dogs.
- Sandflies are the only proven vectors of Leishmania infantum, but direct transmission between dogs, and from pregnant dogs to their puppies, exists.
- Pharmacological tools are available, but not ideal. An ideal drug would eliminate the parasite from target organs and limit transmission to sandflies, without the side effects of current antileishmanials and chemotherapies.
- Several vaccines have been developed, and even though their efficacy is limited, these advances will pave the way to the development of better vaccines against leishmaniasis and other disease caused by protozoans.
Source: MDPI, July 27, 2022. Link.