LeishMed
Monitoring risk factors of spreading of Leishmaniasis around the Mediterranean Basin
Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases are serious communicable diseases around the entire Mediterranean basin, including Southern Europe . These diseases are spreading and control is challenged by three escalating risk factors: human-made environmental changes, immunosuppression (essentially because of Leishmania/HIV co-infection) and parasite resistance to first line drugs, pentavalent antimonials. Trans-border multidisciplinary surveillance of these three risk factors is essential for (i) precise and integrated assessment of the risks, (ii) defining adequate control measures and (iii) the orientation of R&D priorities.
Our general objective is to create a multidisciplinary network linking European and South/East Mediterranean partners in order to document the main risk factors involved in the spread of leishmaniasis around the Mediterranean and to promote transborder control strategies.
1. to review, assess and inform on current scientific knowledge on the epidemiology and control of leishmaniasis around the Mediterranean
2. to co-ordinate existing research on surveillance and control of leishmaniasis
3. to disseminate and standardise relevant tools and good practice arising from research
4. to advise national, regional and international health authorities about the most effective transborder control measures
5. to identify the gaps in current knowledge and expertise, and to define future multidisciplinary research to remedy the situation through co-ordinated action
Expected deliverables are:
(i) 5 workshops for the 22 Euro-Mediterranean consortium partners, (ii) 3 short training courses (molecular epidemiology, diagnosis and epidemiometry and, GIS and environmental control), (ii) constitution of a multidisciplinary expert group, (iv) reviews, opinion papers and guidelines and (v) 1 conference for dissemination of findings.
This project was funded by the EU (Contract FP6-2002-INCO-MPC-1) and ended on 30-11-2007.
Related documents
LeishMed final activity report: click here
LeishMed article published in Trends in Parasitology: click here *
* Reprinted from Trends in Parasitology, Vol 22, Dujardin, Risk factors in the spread of leishmaniasis: towards integrated monitoring?, pp4-6, Copyright 2006, with permission from Elsevier. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14714922
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LeishRisk supports the initiative to develop a VL Diagnostics Quality Assurance Network.
Download a report of the first consultation meeting <here>
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