The Evolution of Lushmaniasis

The link between mucocutaneous lushmaniasis and sandflies had actually been uncovered back in 1922. It's interesting because now we tend to think of them as just like one like an umbrella lushmaniasis. The second big gap in knowledge about lushmaniasis, which is effective treatment, that was filled in the 1940s with discovery that pentastam was effective against the parasites. And then throughout the 80s and into the 90s, lushmaniasis sort of took on an increased importance during the HIV pandemic when it seemed to be highly correlated among people who are already immunosuppressed.