The history of leishmaniasis

Abstract

In this review article the history of leishmaniasis is discussed regarding the origin of the genus Leishmania in the Mesozoic era and its subsequent geographical distribution, initial evidence of the disease in ancient times, first accounts of the infection in the Middle Ages, and the discovery of Leishmania parasites as causative agents of leishmaniasis in modern times. With respect to the origin and dispersal of Leishmania parasites, the three currently debated hypotheses (Palaearctic, Neotropical and supercontinental origin, respectively) are presented. Ancient documents and paleoparasitological data indicate that leishmaniasis was already widespread in antiquity. Identification of Leishmania parasites as etiological agents and sand flies as the transmission vectors of leishmaniasis started at the beginning of the 20th century and the discovery of new Leishmania and sand fly species continued well into the 21st century. Lately, the Syrian civil war and refugee crises have shown that leishmaniasis epidemics can happen any time in conflict areas and neighbouring regions where the disease was previously endemic.

Upscaling the Surveillance of Tick-Borne Pathogens in the French Caribbean Islands

“…were detected in R. microplus specimens from Martinique, and one sequence was identified as Leishmania martiniquensis Tick389 (accession number MK049850). Studies on Leishmania nomenclature have highlighted the fact that isolates of "L. siamensis" have never been officially characterized and that, therefore, this name should not be used [53][54][55][56]. Thus, since all the sequences, except one, reported as "L. siamensis" in databases should be considered as synonyms of L. martiniquensis, we assumed the occurrence of L. martiniquensis here.…”

Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an evolving disease with ancient roots

“…The attribute “annual sore” thus fails to portray the recent epidemic's witnessed capacity to persist as a chronic mutilating lesion. It also fuels the assumption that the dermatosis is self‐limiting, Russel stated that “from what I observed, it is infinitely better to apply nothing, than any numberless medicines they make use of.” Watchful waiting remains listed as a possible treatment modality for limited L. major ‐caused CL . Care must be given not to extend the same reasoning for cases caused by the more aggressive L. tropica .…”

“…Early on, civilizations in the Near East and Central Asia gained basic insight into the disease to prevent its damages. For instance, ancient Arabic societies exerted immunization principle to avoid disfiguring cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions . Hence, such knowledge was considered the major chroniclers of the “Oriental Sore.” This infection is then described as “Balkh sore,” a chronic dermatosis with dry skin lesions around northern Afghanistan .…”

“…From the 16th century onwards, several accounts of skin infections suggested the oriental sore and were named according to the place they were acquired. Aleppo boil, Baghdad boil, and Bouton de Crete are various terms referring to CL . In Hebrew, CL is known as the “Jericho Rose,” referring to its morphological similarity with the local “Maryam's flower.”…”

Chemogenomic profiling of anti-leishmanial efficacy and resistance in the related kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei

“…Collectively, these parasites cause a huge burden of disease amongst predominantly poor populations in affected regions. Leishmaniasis is caused by a range of Leishmania species, leading to cutaneous and visceral forms of the disease, of which there are 0.7-1.3 and 0.2-0.4 million cases annually (4). While cutaneous leishmaniasis can be self-limiting, infections with L. braziliensis (and other members of the Viannia sub-genus) can develop into mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a profoundly disfiguring form of the disease (4).…”