In recent years, the widely circulated news regarding outbreaks of debilitating diseases such as Zika and Ebola in the United States has sparked public outcry and fear. However, compared to the circumstances in other countries, our notion of an “outbreak” is nothing short of a gross overstatement. Various countries across the globe — in Africa, Central America, and the Middle East— are in constant battle with parasitic diseases that ravage their populations. One such disease, which has recently garnered a great deal of attention, is leishmaniasis.
Leishmaniasis is passed on via sand fly bites in both tropical and desert areas. The disease generally manifests in one of two different forms — cutaneous leishmaniasis or visceral leishmaniasis. As the name suggests, cutaneous leishmaniasis leads to skin irritation, whereas visceral leishmaniasis has a more profound impact, impeding the functions of the liver, spleen, and even the bone marrow. Data published by the World Health Organization indicate that approximately 500,000 individuals are diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis annually, while 1.5 million individuals contract cutaneous leishmaniasis. A third, rarer type of leishmaniasis is mucosal leishmaniasis. This form of the disease is characterized by skin sores in the mouth, nose, and throat.
Image Source: Andrew Parsons-PA Images
At present, there is no vaccination available for leishmaniasis. Over time, those diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis typically exhibit a successful recovery, although damage to the skin from the disease may be long-lasting or even permanent. In contrast, an individual with visceral leishmaniasis needs immediate medical attention. According to the World Health Organization, there are five available medications for treatment of visceral leishmaniaisis; two of these are meglumine antimoniate and liposomal amphotericin B.
Researchers observing a leishmaniasis strain from Iraq conducted a recent study, finding evidence suggesting that the strain affecting various individuals in Iraq was identical to a leishmaniasis strain in Iran. The scientists believe that the movement of infected individuals across the border of these two countries resulted in the transmission of the disease and the epidemic of cutaneous leishmaniasis between 2014 and 2017 in Iraq. The study highlights the ease with which the disease can spread, giving us a better understanding of the reasons behind the different outbreaks in various regions of the Middle East.
Although reported cases of leishmaniasis are rare in the United States, studying the different mechanisms by which the disease is transferred can give us a better understanding of the circumstances of other individuals from the perspective of global health.
Featured Image Source: Leishmaniasis by Michael Wunderli
