Nonconventional opponents: a review of malaria and leishmaniasis among United States Armed Forces

PeerJ

article

Kaylin J. Beiter¹  Zachariah J. Wentlent¹  Adrian R. Hamouda¹  Bolaji N. Thomas¹ 

[1] Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology

关键词: Parasites;    United States;    Leishmaniasis;    Military;    Malaria;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.6313

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

As the United States military engage with different countries and cultures throughout the world, personnel become exposed to new biospheres as well. There are many infectious pathogens that are not endemic to the US, but two of particular importance are Plasmodium and Leishmania, which respectively cause malaria and leishmaniasis. These parasites are both known to cause significant disease burden in their endemic locales, and thus pose a threat to military travelers. This review introduces readers to basic life cycle and disease mechanisms for each. Local and military epidemiology are described, as are the specific actions taken by the US military for prevention and treatment purposes. Complications of such measures with regard to human health are also discussed, including possible chemical toxicities. Additionally, poor recognition of these diseases upon an individual’s return leading to complications and treatment delays in the United States are examined. Information about canine leishmaniasis, poorly studied relative to its human manifestation, but of importance due to the utilization of dogs in military endeavors is presented. Future implications for the American healthcare system regarding malaria and leishmaniasis are also presented.

【 授权许可】

CC BY