Arsenic's Role in Treatment Failure of Leishmaniasis in India
Author Information
Author(s): Perry Meghan R., Wyllie Susan, Prajapati Vijay Kumar, Feldmann Joerg, Sundar Shyam, Boelaert Marleen, Fairlamb Alan H.
Primary Institution: Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
Hypothesis
Chronic exposure to arsenic may contribute to the development of antimonial resistance in Leishmania parasites in Bihar, India.
Conclusion
The study suggests a significant link between arsenic contamination of groundwater and the development of high levels of resistance to antimonial compounds in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar.
Supporting Evidence
- Antimonial preparations remain first-line drugs for visceral leishmaniasis, but cure rates have declined significantly in Bihar.
- Chronic exposure to arsenic through contaminated drinking water may lead to the development of arsenic-resistant Leishmania strains.
- The Indian subcontinent is the only place where visceral leishmaniasis and significant arsenic contamination coexist.
Takeaway
People in Bihar, India, are getting sick from a disease called leishmaniasis, and the medicine that usually helps isn't working as well because of arsenic in their drinking water.
Limitations
The study relies on retrospective clinical data and may not accurately reflect current resistance mechanisms.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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