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Research Partnership with Developing Countries
A Programme funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Role of human infection in domestic transmission of dermal leishmaniasis and drug resistance

The human protozoan parasites Leishmania are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, which can lead, depending on the species, to either cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesions, or fatal generalized visceral infection. Among the countries of Latin America, Colombia is second only to Brazil in the number of reported cases of leishmaniasis. Approximately 20,000 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported annually in Colombia during the past 6 years. Furthermore because most cases occur in areas with poor access to medical care, a substantial yet undetermined proportion of cases are not detected by the public health system. Consequently, the true magnitude of the problem is unknown. Thus, the public health problem generated by leishmaniasis is compounded by the large number of unreported, untreated and inadequately treated cases and the high proportion of infections that are initially asymptomatic. These infections can be activated by circumstances that alter immunological homeostasis such as local trauma, immunosuppressive pharmacotherapy and co-infections. Transmission has expanded into the domestic setting of rural communities and periphery of urban centers, where children, women and older adults are most affected. The phenomenon of domestic transmission is common to endemic areas throughout Central and South America and its impact widespread. The goal of our project is to obtain the evidence base to prevent domestic transmission of dermal leishmaniasis and preserve the useful life of first line drugs, by defining the burden of Leishmania infection (symptomatic and asymptomatic) in domestically exposed populations and the role of this reservoir of human infection in transmission and the development and dissemination of drug resistance. This goal will be pursued through the concerted research of teams in Colombia and Switzerland that have a history of productive collaboration.

Contacts

Professor Nicolas Joseph Fasel
Département de Biochimie
Faculté de Biologie et Médecine
Université de Lausanne
Chemin des Boveresses 155
CH-1066 Epalinges
nicolas.fasel(at)unil.ch

Dr. Nancy Gore-Saravia
Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e
Investigaciones Medicos (CIDEIM)
Av. 1 N 3-03
CO-6713 Cali
saravian(at)cideim.org.co


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		Research Partnership with Developing Countries A Programme funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Role of human infection in domestic transmission of dermal leishmaniasis and drug resistance The human protozoan parasites Leishmania are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, which can lead, depending on the species, to either cutaneous or mucocutaneous lesions, or fatal generalized visceral infection. Among the countries of Latin America, Colombia is second only to Brazil in the number of reported cases of leishmaniasis. Approximately 20,000 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported annually in Colombia during the past 6 years. Furthermore because most cases occur in areas with poor access to medical care, a substantial yet undetermined proportion of cases are not detected by the public health system. Consequently, the true magnitude of the problem is unknown. Thus, the public health problem generated by leishmaniasis is compounded by the large number of unreported, untreated and inadequately treated cases and the high proportion of infections that are initially asymptomatic. These infections can be activated by circumstances that alter immunological homeostasis such as local trauma, immunosuppressive pharmacotherapy and co-infections. Transmission has expanded into the domestic setting of rural communities and periphery of urban centers, where children, women and older adults are most affected. The phenomenon of domestic transmission is common to endemic areas throughout Central and South America and its impact widespread. The goal of our project is to obtain the evidence base to prevent domestic transmission of dermal leishmaniasis and preserve the useful life of first line drugs, by defining the burden of Leishmania infection (symptomatic and asymptomatic) in domestically exposed populations and the role of this reservoir of human infection in transmission and the development and dissemination of drug resistance. This goal will be pursued through the concerted research of teams in Colombia and Switzerland that have a history of productive collaboration. Contacts Professor Nicolas Joseph Fasel Département de Biochimie Faculté de Biologie et Médecine Université de Lausanne Chemin des Boveresses 155 CH-1066 Epalinges nicolas.fasel(at)unil.ch Dr. Nancy Gore-Saravia Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicos (CIDEIM) Av. 1 N 3-03 CO-6713 Cali saravian(at)cideim.org.co