Leishmaniasis control in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

Olivier Uwishema*, Suhail Sapkota, Jack Wellington, Chinyere Vivian Patrick Onyeaka, Helen Onyeaka

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
85 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease, endemic to Africa, Asia, and South America due to inadequate access to medication and underreporting of leishmaniasis cases. Leishmaniasis has two forms: cutaneous and visceral. The fight against leishmaniasis has been greatly affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that impacted resource distribution and access to medication. Continuous effort in vaccine development and affordable therapeutics are necessary to eliminate leishmaniasis in low-income countries. Further research is necessary to determine molecular drug resistance markers in leishmaniasis patients. In this analysis, we focus on the effect of COVID-19 on leishmaniasis in Africa.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104263
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Medicine and Surgery
Volume80
Early online date31 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The international consortium funded by the UK government, “Tackling Visceral Leishmaniasis in South Asia and East Africa” (KalaCORE), played a major role in the fight against VL by providing education, tutelage, adjudication of cases, operation research, and surveillance in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan. KalaCORE also worked on improving access to prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, training health workers, equipping health centres, raising community awareness, and bolstering national surveillance systems and vector control methods for protection against sandflies [11].

Vaccination can be the best method to control leishmaniasis as there are many limitations to the treatment regimens. The vaccine should aim to be harmless, efficient, reasonable, and extensively accessible. Unfortunately, no vaccine exists for leishmaniasis despite years of study [6,12]. Recombinant vaccines like Leishmune, and CaniLeish have proven their effectiveness in the dog and might assist in preventing leishmaniasis [13]. The IDRI, Washington, Seattle, invented a candidate immunization (LEISHF3 + GLA SE) using recombinant antigen proteins from L. donovani and L. infantum and is presently evaluating volunteers in phase I clinical studies [14]. Similarly, the Sabin Vaccine Institute Product Development Association (Sabin PDP) is effective in an immunization that uses the protein of recombinant L. donovani with antigens from sandfly saliva [15]. Lately, a third-generation leishmaniasis vaccine, ChAd63KH, is considered to produce CD8 + T cells against leishmaniasis and is in phase 1 clinical trials [15]. With the support of the European Commission , Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , the Carlos Slim Foundation, the Ministry of Federal Research and Education NIH , and the Welcome Trust the vaccine against human visceral leishmaniasis (MeLeVaClin) is under preclinical trials [6]. It is hoped that this study resolves the inadequacy of an effective prophylactic vaccine and amends the immunization that can help those in endemic areas. Further, an effective vaccine to lessen the threat of carriers of leishmania parasites should be addressed soon.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • Africa
  • COVID-19
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Tropical diseases

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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