Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: AI-Driven Trypanosome Species Detection from Microscopic Images
08:20

Author Spotlight: AI-Driven Trypanosome Species Detection from Microscopic Images

Published on: October 27, 2023

2.4K

Blood parasitic diseases in India: Current landscape, challenges, and the road ahead

Nonika Rajkumari1, Diptanu Majumder1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, AIIMS, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.

Tropical Parasitology
|November 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Blood parasitic diseases like malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and visceral leishmaniasis pose a major public health challenge in India. Advances in diagnostics and treatment offer new hope for control and elimination efforts.

Area of Science:

  • * Public Health
  • * Infectious Diseases
  • * Tropical Medicine

Background:

  • * Blood parasitic diseases, including malaria, lymphatic filariasis (LF), and visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), represent a significant public health burden in India.
  • * India faces a substantial global share of LF and kala-azar, being endemic for all three major blood parasites, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
  • * Complex factors such as asymptomatic carriers, coinfections, geographic barriers, and socio-economic issues impede diagnosis and treatment, hindering elimination initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To provide a comprehensive review of the current epidemiology of major blood parasitic diseases in India.
  • * To identify and discuss emerging challenges in the control and elimination of these diseases.
  • * To highlight recent scientific and technological advancements relevant to their detection, surveillance, and management.

Main Methods:

  • * Literature review synthesizing current epidemiological data on malaria, LF, and visceral leishmaniasis in India.
  • * Analysis of challenges including diagnostic complexities, treatment coverage, and socio-economic determinants.
  • * Evaluation of recent advancements in molecular diagnostics, treatment strategies, and control methodologies.

Main Results:

  • * Despite ongoing challenges, India remains endemic for malaria, LF, and visceral leishmaniasis, with significant impact on vulnerable populations.
  • * Molecular diagnostics and novel treatment strategies are emerging as crucial tools for improved detection and surveillance.
  • * Progress towards elimination is hampered by factors like asymptomatic infections, limited healthcare access, and insufficient infrastructure.

Conclusions:

  • * Achieving sustainable elimination of blood parasitic diseases in India requires a multisectoral, evidence-based strategy.
  • * Integration of innovative tools, robust community engagement, and strengthened health systems is critical.
  • * A concerted effort is needed to overcome epidemiological complexities and socio-economic barriers for effective disease control.

Keywords:
Blood parasitesdrug resistanceeliminationkala-azarplasmodiumvaccines

More Related Videos

Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples04:57

Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples

Published on: April 25, 2025

995
Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates13:55

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Published on: January 27, 2019

15.6K

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
399
Overview of Protists01:27

Overview of Protists

Protists are diverse eukaryotic microorganisms that lack the specialized tissues of plants and animals and the chitinous cell walls of fungi. Their early divergence within Eukarya resulted in structural, functional, and ecological diversity. They are classified into supergroups such as Archaeplastida, Excavata, Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, Alveolata, and Stramenopiles, determined through genetic analysis and structural similarities.Structural and Functional AdaptationsProtists have various adaptations...
1.4K
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
757
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
11.7K
Principles of Disease Surveillance01:26

Principles of Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
445
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
922