Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
06:57
In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice
Published on: February 20, 2020
Treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis
Margriet den Boer1, Robert N Davidson
1Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, Médecins Sans Frontières, Rue Lausanne 78 CP 116 CH-1211, Geneva 21, Switzerland. margriet.den.boer@msf.org
Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|April 7, 2006
Summary
New drugs offer hope for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) therapy, but field diagnosis and treatment access remain critical challenges. Combination therapy is recommended to prevent drug resistance.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease.
- Current therapeutic options for VL are limited.
- Drug resistance is a growing concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in visceral leishmaniasis therapy.
- To identify current challenges in VL treatment and control.
- To discuss strategies for preventing drug resistance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on visceral leishmaniasis therapy.
- Analysis of factors limiting treatment efficacy and access.
- Evaluation of combination therapy as a resistance-prevention strategy.
Main Results:
- New drugs have been introduced for visceral leishmaniasis treatment.
- Challenges include difficulties in field diagnosis and unequal patient access to care.
- No new drugs are in early development stages.
- Combination therapy is advised to combat resistance.
Conclusions:
- Despite new drugs, VL treatment faces significant hurdles.
- Improving diagnosis and ensuring equitable access are crucial for reducing mortality.
- Combination therapy is essential for preserving the effectiveness of existing treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...
01:21Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.