Kala Azar

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), (also known as black fever or Kala-azar) is a life-threatening disease first reported from the Indian subcontinent. VL ranks as the world’s second largest parasitic disease killer and is a neglected tropical disease. Most of those infected by this life-threatening disease are uneducated daily wagers working to support their families, and vectors easily disseminate the disease to their neighbors. Owing to recent involvement of stakeholders, the number of patients is decreasing, but eradication remains a distant goal. This second edition presents latest reports of visceral Leishmaniasis by specialists working at the forefront of the endemic areas in Indian subcontinent. It also introduces vaccine development and inhibitors to Trypanosomatidae; some of them describing feasibility studies in visceral Leishmaniasis for the first time. Recent progress of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) is also reviewed and the contents share this collaborative research from the forefront of endemic sites in Bangladesh. Widely covering basic, clinical, epidemiological and entomological aspects, this volume will be of great interest to dedicated researchers interested inLeishmaniasis and to experts of NTDs in global health. There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of disease control is bound in shallows and in miseries. ~modified from Shakespeare ~

Kala-azar; i.e. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a menace to the state of Bihar; affecting a large chunk of population. One-third cases of Kala-azar are reported from Bihar itself; as per report of WHO. Diagnosis and case detections are done by rk39. Miltefosine has been rolled out in 16 highly endemic districts of Bihar; whereas other districts have the coverage of Amphotericin B. and Sodium Stibo Gluconate as the treatment drugs. What is more perplexing is the spreading of Kala-azar foci to the newer districts in the State of Bihar; which were previously completely free from the disease. In addition to the Department of Health of the Govt. of Bihar; many developmental partners are also working in the State towards Kala-azar elimination; but to our dismay; each of them is working in an isolation. What is needed here is a systematic and integrated approach towards tackling the menace of the disease. The aim of this work is to draw the attention of readers as well as policymakers to secure integration of the solitary efforts towards elimination of Kala-azar at one platform and to enforce newer evidence based strategies in the State.

This book addresses the current challenges in controlling Kala-azar disease (Visceral leishmaniasis) in India and other VL-endemic areas, and aims to develop and apply a geo-environmental risk model based on primary and secondary data with the aid of remote sensing and GIS technologies to assess and mitigate Kala-azar transmission. Through case studies carried out in India, the book provides insight into the relationship between geo-environmental variables and encroachments of Kala-azar, and identifies potential pathways for VL introduction to develop mitigation strategies using GIS and remote sensing technologies. The book critically assesses existing VL mitigation measures that do not adequately account for geo-environmental conditions, and analyzes the environmental factors that aid Kala-azar transmission using remote sensing, spatial statistics and data mining techniques. The book will be of interest to epidemiologists, researchers and practitioners using geospatial data practices to study disease transmission and associated monitoring technologies.

Therapeutic regimens for visceral leishmaniasis (also Kala-azar, Dum-dum fever or black fever), caused by parasitic protozoa of the Leishmania genus, evolve at a pace never seen before. Spread by tiny and abundant sand flies, the parasite infects internal organs and bone marrow and if left untreated will almost always result in the death of the host. In developing countries successful diagnosis and treatment are complicated by asymptomatic cases, undernutrition and Kala-azar/HIV co-infections. This book brings together world-renown experts writing state-of-arts review on the progress in diagnosis and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, ultimately leading to the complete elimination of this fatal disease from South Asia. The chapters provide valuable information for disease control as well as therapy and the diagnostic improvements necessary for early treatment, subclinical detection and drug-resistant cases. The presented methods allow for points-of-care testing in the endemic area, enabling rapid detection in resource-poor settings with easy handling and low costs. This book provides essential information for scientists, medical practitioners and policy makers involved in the diagnosis, treatment and elimination of Kala-azar.

As we embark on excavating the history of kala-azar, one story keeps returning to our mind over and over again. This is about and extra terrestrial landing in the Jardin du phasia royal , right in fromt of the bibliothe que nationale in paris.