LEISHMANIA PARASITE: A CAPTIVATING ENIGMA

摘要

Leishmaniasis is a complex parasitic disease with clinical and epidemiological diversity and includes visceral leishmaniasis, a disease locally known as 'kala azar' or black fever which is rampant in eastern India. This disease is fatal when left untreated. Having been classified as a 'neglected disease' leishmaniasis presents new opportunities of research to understand this pathogen and to strengthen the armory to fight against it. We present in brief here our research efforts towards development of drugs and diagnostics, aimed towards the control of this disease with the hope to turn back the tide of neglect.