Tegumentary Leishmaniasis: Perspectives and Challenges in This Enigmatic Disease
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Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a chronic granulomatous disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes. It is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan of the genus Leishmania, transmitted through the bite of a female sandfly of the genus Phlebotomus or Lutzomyia. The host immune response plays a crucial role in the development of the clinical form of the disease. An imbalance favoring Th1 and Th17 responses promotes localized cutaneous or mucosal forms, whereas a Th2 response is associated with generalized forms, such as disseminated or diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. Currently, medical treatment remains based on pentavalent antimonial compounds, which induce host toxicity, underscoring the need to explore new therapeutic options.