Epidemiological status of leishmaniasis: A brief review

Background and Aim : Leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic disease with a wide clinical spectrum and is a tropical disease that spreads with a wide range of parasitic reservoirs and vectors. The disease is caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania. The present study was designed to determine the epidemiological status of leishmaniasis.Methods : The present study was a brief review study designed in ۲۰۲۱. PubMed / Medline and Scopus databases were used to search for similar studies and extract content. Selected keywords for the search included “Epidemiology”, “leishmaniasis” and “parasite”. Summaries of articles published in congresses and conferences were excluded from the study. Initially, ۱۴ articles were finally evaluated.Results : More than ۲۰ species of these protozoa can cause disease, and the female genus of sandflies are carriers. Out of about a thousand species of sandflies, ۹۳ species have transmitted leishmaniasis, the most common vectors of which are subfamilies of phlebotomines and luteal mutations. Humans and dogs are known to be the main reservoirs of Leishmania, while wild rodents also play an important role as reservoirs of disease in rural areas, however, there have been limited reports that cats may also be involved in the epidemiology of the disease. The disease is endemic in ۱۰۰ countries around the world.Conclusion : The incidence of the disease is increasing, so educating people, especially in epidemic and endemic areas can be effective in preventing and controlling the disease.

کلیدواژه ها:

Leishmaniasis ، Epidemiology ، Parasitic Diseases