Leishmaniasis commonly affects the economically poor section of the world’s population due to malnutrition, a weak immune system, unhygienic living conditions, limited healthcare services, and insufficient financial resources. Other risk factors include population mobility and climatic and environmental changes. Additionally, leishmaniasis may occur after an antecedent infection, such as HIV and Kala-azar disease.
The World Health Organization reports 700,000 to 1 million cases of leishmaniasis worldwide. Leishmaniasis manifests clinically in three distinct forms – visceral, cutaneous, and mucocutaneous, which vary in their prevalence in different regions of the world, with visceral leishmaniasis being the most common variant. Thus, it is essential to identify and address the gaps and challenges concerning its prompt diagnosis and early therapeutic interventions to control mortality and…