Emerging biosensor-based methodologies and strategies for leishmaniases: trends, technologies, and translational...

Leishmaniases are diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, with clinical symptoms ranging from small skin sores to severe infections in vital organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and spleen. Effective control of leishmaniases depends on the specific and rapid detection of the parasite. Conventional methods, however, face significant limitations, including low sensitivity and specificity, along with high complexity and cost. In this context, biosensor technologies offer a promising solution due to their rapid, sensitive, and selective capabilities. These devices convert biological signals into measurable electrical signals, which enables them to play a crucial role in evaluating new anti-Leishmania drugs and detecting these parasites in clinical samples. This review provides a concise overview of traditional diagnostic methods and critically examines the latest electrochemical and optical biosensing platforms developed for disease detection up to July 2025. The goal is to update the discussion by including advanced biosensor-based approaches and strategies that have the potential to improve real-world effectiveness and address current shortcomings in controlling these diseases.