Leishmaniasis – a truly neglected disease

Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) is one of the diseases that have not received much attention simply because it is not as widespread as many other tropical diseases like malaria and HIV. Even when it occurs, it affects isolated pockets of populations. It also has a self healing nature for cutaneous leishmaniasis which forms the bulk of the infection. Nevertheless the disease is associated with great human suffering and loss of life in the areas where it occurs. Many times the disease is misdiagnosed and even where diagnoses are made, treatment is expensive and associated with numerous side effects. In North Eastern province of Kenya the disease has  been associated  with numerous out breaks, for example in 2000 and 2006 a strange disease with high mortality especially in young children was reported which turned out to be Kala-azar. In Baringo District Rift valley province Kenya Leishmaniasis is endemic with highly reported disease incidences. Other areas of Kenya that is endemic for leishmaniasis includes Kitui & Machakos Districts in Eastern province, Tana River in Coast province, Kajiado district, Laikipia and West Pokot all in the Rift Valley province.

 
In collaboration with other stake holders, the Institute of Primate Research has been conducting research in leishmaniasis since late eighties. Our first publication in leishmaniasis dates way back in 1987, when natural infection of L. major was reported in an African Green (Vervet) monkey. Over the ensuing years this non human primate model has become well characterized and has been used extensively in leishmania vaccine development studies (reviewed in Gicheru et al., 2001: Parasitology Today). The Vervet monkey has proved an invaluable model for vaccine development studies and adjuvant testing. In our research facility both murine model and non human primate model are currently in use. An in vitro system for leishmania parasite lifecycle stages maintenance is also in place.

 
Recently we embarked on collaborative studies on leishmania drug development. A diminazine based drug “Trypan@” was evaluated for its potential as anti-leishmania agent against L. major in BALB/c Leishmania model with encouraging results (Gicheru et al., 2004; Acta tropica). We are currently working on different formulation of diminazine based drugs with the hope of providing alternative drugs for treatment of Leishmaniasis and malaria. It’s is the intention that the IPR facility will be accredited to participate in drug development studies for neglected diseases.

This is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of a sand fly and that affects many people in the semi- and arid regions of Kenya, and the sub-region.

A major achievement of IPR scientists' has been the development of the Vervet monkey as a model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This model has been developed with WHO funding and expert assistance and is currently in use in the testing of new drugs and vaccines against this neglected disease that causes severe mortality and morbidity.