Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), (also known as black fever or Kala-azar) is a life-threatening disease first reported from the Indian subcontinent. VL ranks as the world’s second largest parasitic disease killer and is a neglected tropical disease. Most of those infected by this life-threatening disease are uneducated daily wagers working to support their families, and vectors easily disseminate the disease to their neighbors. Owing to recent involvement of stakeholders, the number of patients is decreasing, but eradication remains a distant goal. This second edition presents latest reports of visceral Leishmaniasis by specialists working at the forefront of the endemic areas in Indian subcontinent. It also introduces vaccine development and inhibitors to Trypanosomatidae; some of them describing feasibility studies in visceral Leishmaniasis for the first time. Recent progress of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) is also reviewed and the contents share this collaborative research from the forefront of endemic sites in Bangladesh. Widely covering basic, clinical, epidemiological and entomological aspects, this volume will be of great interest to dedicated researchers interested inLeishmaniasis and to experts of NTDs in global health. There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of disease control is bound in shallows and in miseries. ~modified from Shakespeare ~

Therapeutic regimens for visceral leishmaniasis (also Kala-azar, Dum-dum fever or black fever), caused by parasitic protozoa of the Leishmania genus, evolve at a pace never seen before. Spread by tiny and abundant sand flies, the parasite infects internal organs and bone marrow and if left untreated will almost always result in the death of the host. In developing countries successful diagnosis and treatment are complicated by asymptomatic cases, undernutrition and Kala-azar/HIV co-infections. This book brings together world-renown experts writing state-of-arts review on the progress in diagnosis and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, ultimately leading to the complete elimination of this fatal disease from South Asia. The chapters provide valuable information for disease control as well as therapy and the diagnostic improvements necessary for early treatment, subclinical detection and drug-resistant cases. The presented methods allow for points-of-care testing in the endemic area, enabling rapid detection in resource-poor settings with easy handling and low costs. This book provides essential information for scientists, medical practitioners and policy makers involved in the diagnosis, treatment and elimination of Kala-azar.

This book covers all aspects of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the region of South Asia. NTDs constitute a significant part of the total disease burden in this geographic area, including soil borne helminth infections, vector borne viral infections, protozoan infections and a few bacterial infections. The current volume covers the most common neglected viral, bacterial and protozoan infections. On top of that, the last part of the volume is dedicated to the management of neglected tropical diseases.

Tropical diseases are not merely a group of nosologic diseases indigenous to the intertropical zone. Many are diseases of poor public health originating from poverty, ignorance, and population upheaval. Tropical dermatoses represent a public health problem in 127 countries with a population of 3 billion people who do not have access to health care.

This book provides an overview on the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Leishmaniasis, Buruli Ulcer and Schistosomiasis. In well-structured chapters epidemiology and biology of these parasitic diseases will be discussed in detail. Further, diagnostics and therapeutic approaches as well as prevention strategies will be reviewed. The book will be of interest to basic researchers and clinicians engaged in infectious disease, tropical medicine, and parasitology, and a must-have for scientists specialized in the characteristics of the Sub-Saharan region.

​Leishmania-related illnesses remain among the world’s deadliest neglected tropical diseases, affecting approximately 12 million people in 88 countries. The mortality rate is substantial, contributing to nearly two million disability-adjusted life years. As more is understood about this parasite and its effects, work toward prevention, control, and treatment continues apace. Leishmania and Leishmaniasis will address the parasite and its attendant disease, which manifests in three syndromes: Visceral (VL), Cutaneous (CL) and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML). The morphology and life cycles of the various species will be among the topics addressed in Part One. Part Two will focus on immunology, including host-immune response to Leishmania infection, cross-immunity between the different species and adoptive transfer of immunity. Parts Three and Four will address how Leishmania invade and survive, the clinical features of the disease, and its diagnosis. Drugs, vaccines and treatment will be thoroughly explored, including experimental models of therapeutics. Leishmania and Leishmaniasis will provide a thorough examination of a parasite, the illnesses it causes and the misery it continues to visit upon large segments of the population.​

Leishmania parasites plague the mammalian host causing high morbidity and mortality. The parasites persist in the hostile milieu, crippling its defensive arsenal. In the face of mounting resistance to an antiquated drug arsenal, new approaches are urgently desired to keep the infection at bay. Furthermore, to strengthen the leishmaniasis elimination drive, particular emphasis has to be laid on identification of new targets and vaccination strategies. This book gives a brief glimpse of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis, immune evasion, vaccination, and therapeutic modalities that may work by untangling the immunological cross-wires of pathogenic cross-talk. The Conventional treatment and its drawbacks, the prospects of phytotherapy and nanomedicines, are also discussed. The identification of drug targets with the aim of designing inhibitors is also exemplified.

This book addresses the current challenges in controlling Kala-azar disease (Visceral leishmaniasis) in India and other VL-endemic areas, and aims to develop and apply a geo-environmental risk model based on primary and secondary data with the aid of remote sensing and GIS technologies to assess and mitigate Kala-azar transmission. Through case studies carried out in India, the book provides insight into the relationship between geo-environmental variables and encroachments of Kala-azar, and identifies potential pathways for VL introduction to develop mitigation strategies using GIS and remote sensing technologies. The book critically assesses existing VL mitigation measures that do not adequately account for geo-environmental conditions, and analyzes the environmental factors that aid Kala-azar transmission using remote sensing, spatial statistics and data mining techniques. The book will be of interest to epidemiologists, researchers and practitioners using geospatial data practices to study disease transmission and associated monitoring technologies.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is known to be transmitted by 90 different species of sandflies which carry 20 Leishmania species that cause human infection particularly in endemic countries. Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention of Leishmaniasis aims to provide information on this vector-borne disease and explore strategies for diagnosis and treatment. The book begins with an overview of leishmaniasis which includes historical and future perspectives of the disease. It also discusses the clinical manifestation of the disease, mechanisms of infection, therapeutic strategies, diagnostics, prevention, and cure of Leishmania parasite. The book goes on to explain new insights and challenges in the development of promising drug targets, biomarkers identification and advance vaccination strategies against leishmaniasis. Chapter contributions brings together diverse areas of expertise making Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention of Leishmaniasis aims to bring together elements of leishmaniasis into one place and be a valuable resource for researchers, health care professionals, and graduate students, working in the field of leishmaniasis. Provides an overview Leishmania and leishmanisis which include its history, transmission, clinical picture, and treatment Discusses novel approaches to study parasite infection and treatment Explores recent advances in the development of diagnostic kits, drug development and various vaccination strategies

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne, parasitic disease with tremendous variety in presentation, biology, and epidemiology. Any book on this disease must acknowledge the nearly impossible task of providing an exhaustive account of leishmaniasis simply because the epidemiology of the disease is so very complex. This book addresses some of this variety with chapters on the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in North Africa, Central America, and South America. The purpose of the book is not to specifically address diagnosis and treatment of the disease, but rather to provide a sample of the differing epidemiologies of leishmaniasis that occur due to variations in local habitats; the presence of different vectors, reservoirs, and agents; and the wide variety of cultures in which this disease occurs.