Veterinary medicine and public health: From diagnosis to combating leishmaniasis

Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are neglected diseases in the Americas, prioritized by the WHO due to their potential lethality. Caused by the protozoan Leishmania and transmitted by the mosquito Lutzomyia longipalpis, they present distinct symptoms: skin lesions for the cutaneous type and severe systemic symptoms for the visceral type. Diagnosis involves methods such as serology and PCR, with specific treatments including meglumine antimoniate and miltefosine. Prevention is based on measures such as environmental hygiene and the use of repellents in animals to avoid exposure to the vector.