Protective and Pathogenic Immune Responses to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) parasites are known to cause a broad spectrum of clinical diseases in humans, collectively known as the leishmaniases. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common clinical presentation with varying degrees of severity largely driven by host immune responses, specifically the interplay between innate and adaptive immune response. The establishment of a T lymphocyte driven cell-mediated immune response, leading to activated phagocytic cells, leading to Leishmania parasite killing and control of infection. Alternatively, the Leishmania parasite manipulates the host immune system, enabling parasite proliferation and clinical disease. Here we review how the cumulative interactions of different aspects of the host immune response determines disease outcome, severity, and immunity to re-infection.

Detection of Leishmania (Mundinia) macropodum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and heterologous Leishmania species antibodies among blood donors in a region of Australia with marsupial Leishmania endemicity

“…The main Leishmania species responsible for CL are Leishmania major, L. tropica and L. aethiopica (Old World species), and L. amazonensis, L. mexicana, L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis (New World species). With several etiological Leishmania species causing variable clinical manifestations, the epidemiology of CL is complicated (Panahi et al, 2022). In 2001 a novel species, Leishmania (Mundinia) macropodum, was identified as endemic in the tropical region of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, and shown to cause clinical manifestations of CL in marsupial species (Dougall et al, 2009;Rose et al, 2004).…”