title: Spread of vector-borne diseases and neglect of Leishmaniasis, Europe.
abstract: The risk for reintroduction of some exotic vector-borne diseases in Europe has become a hot topic, while the reality of others is neglected at the public health policy level. Leishmaniasis is endemic in all southern countries of Europe, with approximately 700 autochthonous human cases reported each year (3,950 if Turkey is included). Asymptomatic cases have been estimated at 30-100/1 symptomatic case, and leishmaniasis has up to 25% seroprevalence in domestic dogs. Even though leishmaniasis is essentially associated with Leishmania infantum and visceral leishmaniasis, new species, such as L. donovani and L. tropica, might colonize European sand fly vectors. Drug-resistant L. infantum strains might be exported outside Europe through dogs. Despite this possibility, no coordinated surveillance of the disease exists at the European level. In this review of leishmaniasis importance in Europe, we would like to bridge the gap between research and surveillance and control.
authors.affiliation: Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: Lenea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campino
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cañavate
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dedet
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gradoni
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soteriadou
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazeris
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozbel
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boelaert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies