Leishmania parasites cause a diverse group of diseases endemic to many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This volume seeks to bring together recent research on cell and molecular biology of Leishmania with chapters on the host response to infection, the current epidemiology of leishmaniasis, explanations of the many different species, vector control, and strategies for vaccine development and drug treatment. Leishmania, volume four of World Class Parasites, is written for researchers, students and scholars who enjoy reading research that has a major impact on human health, or agricultural productivity, and against which we have no satisfactory defense. It is intended to supplement more formal texts that cover taxonomy, life cycles, morphology, vector distribution, symptoms and treatment. It integrates vector, pathogen and host biology and celebrates the diversity of approach that comprises modern parasitological research.
This volume explores the latest techniques used to study Leishmania and other trypanosomatidae. Chapters in this book cover a wide range of topics such as cultivation of axenic amastigote forms; phylogeny and comparative genomics; and in vitro and in vivo infection models that look at hosts ranging from cell lines to mammalian and arthropode hosts. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Unique and cutting-edge, Leishmania: Methods and Protocols is a valuable guide for both established and novice researchers in the Leishmania field. This book will also be useful to researchers working with other protozoa of the Order Trypanosomatide.
Out of the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prioritized by the World Health Organization, the leishmaniases rank in the top 3 among those caused by protozoa. The purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a comprehensive and updated overview of all the aspects of leishmaniasis with a worldwide perspective – authors of many chapters include eminent scientists from both the Old and New Worlds. The chapters cover a wide range of topics, classically organized into biology and epidemiology, followed by clinical and control aspects. Following an introductory chapter intended to take the reader into the leishmaniasis complexity, a chapter on Leishmania taxonomy reports on the most recent advances in molecular and phylogenetic data. Parasite biology is then described in detail by means of two separate chapters devoted to phlebotomine vectors and reservoir hosts, respectively. The medical part of the book begins with a chapter on basic immunology and immunopathology associated with Leishmania infection, followed by a classical chapter on clinical aspects of different disease entities. The complexity of disease case management is presented by means of 3 chapters, respectively on diagnosis, treatment of visceral forms and treatment of tegumentary forms. Finally, the last chapter deals with the available approaches to control leishmaniasis and related public health issues.
One of the main problems concerning therapeutic tools for the treatment of parasitic diseases, including leishmaniasis, is that some field parasites are naturally resistant to the classical drugs; additionally, current therapies may select parasites prone to be resistant to the applied drugs. These features are (at least partially) responsible for the disappointing persistence of the disease and resultant deaths worldwide. This book provides a comprehensive view of the pathology of the disease itself, and of parasitic drug resistance, its molecular basis, consequences and possible treatments. Scientists both from academic fields and from the industry involved in biomedical research and drug design, will find in this book a valuable and fundamental guide that conveys the knowledge needed to understand and to improve the success in combating this disease worldwide.
This book discusses recent developments in several laboratories studying leishmaniasis. Sequencing of the human genome, as well as of the leishmania genome, has led to significant advances in our understanding of host-immune responses against leishmania, and mechanisms of infection-induced pathology, which is responsible for morbidity and mortality. Pathogenesis of Leishmaniasis focuses on the latest basic research into leishmaniasis, but also addresses how advances in understanding can be applied to prevention, control and treatment of what the WHO has classified a neglected tropical disease.
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.
This book contains a collection of critical reviews on the expression of biologically functional proteins in Leishmania and Trypanosoma, which was written by renowned researchers on this field. Species belonging to these trypanosomatids’ genera are etiological agents of leishmaniasis, Chagas’ disease and sleeping sickness that are extremely debilitating human infection diseases, which remain a major health problem especially in countries from Latin America, Africa and Middle East. Substantiating the problem, the currently accepted drugs for these diseases are quiet unsatisfying due to their low efficacy and high toxicity. In order to solve these real problems, several research groups around the world have become involved in the study and identification of novel potential targets in the trypanosomatid cell. Since proteins are key macromolecules involved in crucial metabolic processes of all living cells, studies have focused on the expression of specific proteins produced by Leishmania and Trypanosoma by means of different biochemical, molecular and proteomic approaches in order to explore them as targets for understanding the parasite life cycle and developing new strategies against trypanosomiasis. With these proposals in mind, the book “Proteins and Proteomics of Leishmania and Trypanosoma” encompasses (i) an integrated view about the biochemistry of parasites belonging to the Leishmania and Trypanosoma genera; (ii) an updated review on the expression of biologically relevant proteins by human pathogenic trypanosomatids and their possible role in the interaction with host cells/molecules as well as a target for development of both alternative chemotherapies and vaccine; and (iii) several pictures, diagrams and tables that can be used to illustrate both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching as well as scientific lectures, being a useful resource for students and researchers.
Of all the parasitic diseases, leishmaniasis is one of the most diverse, with a variety of manifestations, from relatively minor cutaneous lesions to deadly visceral infections. It is also widespread, causing human disease in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The environments in which this disease occurs range from desert to tropical jungle to urban habitats. Not surprisingly, the literature on this disease is written in a variety of languages including Portuguese, Arabic, English and French among others. This book provides a synopsis in English of much of the recent research on leishmaniasis, with a focus on the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of the disease as described by researchers around the world, but with a focus on the research from Brazil and the Middle East.
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
New emerging diseases, new diagnostic modalities for resource-poor settings, new vaccine schedules ... all significant, recent developments in the fast-changing field of tropical medicine. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10th Edition, keeps you up to date with everything from infectious diseases and environmental issues through poisoning and toxicology, animal injuries, and nutritional and micronutrient deficiencies that result from traveling to tropical or subtropical regions. This comprehensive resource provides authoritative clinical guidance, useful statistics, and chapters covering organs, skills, and services, as well as traditional pathogen-based content. You'll get a full understanding of how to recognize and treat these unique health issues, no matter how widespread or difficult to control. - Includes important updates on malaria, leishmaniasis, tuberculosis and HIV, as well as coverage of Ebola, Zika virus, Chikungunya, and other emerging pathogens. - Provides new vaccine schedules and information on implementation. - Features five all-new chapters: Neglected Tropical Diseases: Public Health Control Programs and Mass Drug Administration; Health System and Health Care Delivery; Zika; Medical Entomology; and Vector Control – as well as 250 new images throughout. - Presents the common characteristics and methods of transmission for each tropical disease, as well as the applicable diagnosis, treatment, control, and disease prevention techniques. - Contains skills-based chapters such as dentistry, neonatal pediatrics and ICMI, and surgery in the tropics, and service-based chapters such as transfusion in resource-poor settings, microbiology, and imaging. - Discusses maladies such as delusional parasitosis that are often seen in returning travelers, including those making international adoptions, transplant patients, medical tourists, and more. - Enhanced eBook version included with purchase, which allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.
