Title
Authors
Abstract
Leishmania are the causative protozoal agents of leishmaniasis, that is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in more than 88 countries. In the absence of any effective vaccines, the only feasible way to treat leishmaniasis is through the use of medications. The first line drug is composed of molecules developed in the 1950s, like pentavalent antimony (i.e., Pentostam®, Glucantime®). Currently Leishmania antimony resistance still continues to emerge in various part of the world. In Algeria, as early as 1986, a high rate of treatment failure (48.5%) was recorded during the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major. In addition, lower sensitivity to meglumine antimoniate was observed in L. major isolated from Psammomys obesus, a reservoir host. More recently decrease antimony susceptibility was reported in L. infantum strains. The current studies engaged in Algeria on the susceptibility of Leishmania parasites will shed light not only on the occurrence of antimony resistance in this area but also on factors that are involved in the selection of antimony resistance in natural Leishmania populations.
Keywords Leishmania, drug resistance, antimony, life cycle.
References
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