title: Management of trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current treatments for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease and leishmaniasis (collectively referred to as the kinetoplastid diseases) are far from ideal but, for some, there has been significant recent progress. For HAT the only advances in treatment over the past two decades have been the introduction of an eflornithine/nifurtimox co-administration and a shorter regime of the old standard melarsoprol.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a need for new safe, oral drugs for cost-effective treatment of patients and use in control programmes for all the trypanosomatid diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis is not on the agenda and treatments are lagging behind.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are three compounds in development for the treatment of the CNS stage of HAT: fexinidazole, currently due to entry into phase II clinical studies, a benzoxaborole (SCYX-7158) in phase I trials and a diamidine derivative (CPD-0802), in advanced pre-clinical development. For Chagas disease, two anti-fungal triazoles are now in clinical trial. In addition, clinical studies with benznidazole, a drug previously recommended only for acute stage treatment, are close to completion to determine the effectiveness in the treatment of early chronic and indeterminate Chagas disease. For visceral leishmaniasis new formulations, therapeutic switching, in particular AmBisome, and the potential for combinations of established drugs have significantly improved the opportunities for the treatment in the Indian subcontinent, but not in East Africa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved diagnostic tools are needed to support treatment, for test of cure in clinical trials and for monitoring/surveillance of populations in control programmes.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Simon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Croft
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D001896:Boron Compounds; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; C557508:SCYX 7158; D014230:Triazoles; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; C038307:fexinidazole; D010419:Pentamidine; D000666:Amphotericin B; C009999:benzonidazole