title: Leishmaniases in the Mediterranean in the era of molecular epidemiology.
abstract: Molecular tools are used increasingly for descriptive epidemiological studies in different Mediterranean foci of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. Several molecular markers with different resolution levels have been developed to address key epidemiological questions related to the (re-)emergence and spread of leishmaniases, as well as its risk factors: environmental changes, immunosuppression and treatment failure. Typing and analytical tools are improving but are not yet addressing all epidemiological issues satisfactorily. There is an urgent need for better cooperation between laboratory scientists and epidemiologists and for regional epidemiological surveillance of these infectious diseases that affect all Mediterranean countries.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Dorotheenstr. 96, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. gabriele.schoenian@charite.de
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schönian
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mauricio
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gramiccia
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cañavate
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dujardin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers