Treating The Black Fever: Evaluating Combination Chemotherapy for Leishmania Donovani

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) endemic to Africa, Asia, and the Americas, caused by the parasite L. donovani and spread by the Phlebotomine sandfly. If left untreated, VL is almost always fatal, bearing a mortality rate of over 95%. Many individuals within endemic regions are often too poor to afford treatment, and the financial burden of current treatments may only exacerbate their poverty. Antimonials and more modern treatments display varying effectiveness, but are nonetheless toxic to the host, commonly inducing hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and renal failure. The development of more effective and safer treatments is crucial, particularly for vulnerable populations, including American military personnel stationed in endemic areas. In this study, we present a potential compound that may more effectively destroy the parasite, potentially leading to more therapeutic options that better stave off the spread of the disease.