Studies on the transmission and pathobiology of New and Old World leishmaniases

利什曼病是一种由吸血昆虫沙蝇传播的原生动物传染病。这种疾病分布广泛，影响到世界88个国家的至少1200万人。本研究采用分子生物学、免疫学和流行病学的方法，对患者、媒介白蝇和水库动物三种疾病因素进行了调查。主要研究结果如下：(1)利什曼原虫与利什曼原虫的亲缘关系。(2)媒介种类的确定，(3)寻找感染利什曼原虫的不同哺乳动物，(4)发展快速诊断和治疗，(5)在每个流行地区寻找控制措施。

Leishmaniasis is one of the protozoan infectious diseases transmitted by blood-sucking insects, sandflies. The disease is widely distributed, affecting at least 12 million people in 88 countries of the world. In this study, three disease factors, patients, vector sandflies, and reservoir animals, were investigated by employing molecular biological, immunological and epidemiological methods. Main results obtained are as follows : (1) relation between Leishmania spp. and disease forms, (2) determination of vector species, (3) search for different mammals infected with Leishmania, (4) development of rapid diagnosis and treatment, (5) search for control measures at each endemic area.