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Leishmania and the
leishmaniases: a parasite genetic update and advances in taxonomy,
epidemiology and pathogenicity in humans.Adv
Parasitol. 2007;64:1-109.
Leishmaniases
remain a major public health problem today despite the vast amount of
research conducted on Leishmania pathogens. The biological model is
genetically and ecologically complex. This paper explores the advances
in Leishmania genetics and reviews population structure, taxonomy,
epidemiology and pathogenicity. Current knowledge of Leishmania
genetics is placed in the context of natural populations. Various
studies have described a clonal structure for Leishmania but
recombination, pseudo-recombination and other genetic processes have
also been reported. The impact of these different models on
epidemiology and the medical aspects of leishmaniases is considered
from an evolutionary point of view. The role of these parasites in the
expression of pathogenicity in humans is also explored. It is
important to ascertain whether genetic variability of the parasites is
related to the different clinical expressions of leishmaniasis. The
review aims to put current knowledge of Leishmania and
the leishmaniases
in perspective and to underline priority questions which 'leishmaniacs'
must answer in various domains: epidemiology, population genetics,
taxonomy and pathogenicity. It concludes by presenting a number of
feasible ways of responding to these questions. |
