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Leishmania infantum and leishmaniasis in animals and humans (Master thesis)

Τζιτζούδη, Ζωή - Μαρία/ Tzitzoudi, Zoi - Maria

Leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease that affects both humans and various animal species, with dogs serving as the primary reservoir of the parasite in natural ecosystems. Transmission occurs via the bite of infected sandflies that have acquired the parasite. In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the predominant species responsible for the disease in both humans and dogs. Infec-tions caused by L. infantum have been documented in domestic as well as wild animal popula-tions. Identifying novel animal hosts is of particular importance, as these species may serve as additional reservoirs, potentially facilitating the persistence and spread of the parasite in the en-vironment. Leishmaniasis, often referred to as the “disease of the poor,” affects millions of indi-viduals worldwide. The various Leishmania species responsible for the disease are endemic in numerous regions across the globe. In recent decades, the epidemiology of leishmaniasis has been influenced by several factors, including climate change and socio-political upheavals, con-tributing to the expansion of the disease into previously non-endemic areas. The treatment of leishmaniasis remains a significant challenge. The parasite has demonstrated the capacity to de-velop resistance mechanisms against drugs that were once effective, leading to the emergence of resistant strains. In the absence of approved vaccines for human use, management and preven-tion rely heavily on chemotherapeutic agents, many of which are associated with significant tox-icity and decreasing efficacy due to parasite resistance. Therefore, the development of safe and effective vaccines is of critical importance for disease control. However, this goal is hampered by the parasite’s antigenic variability and the complexity of the host immune response.