Leishmaniasis in Syria – A call for action of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Groups for Infections in Travellers and Migrants (ESGITM) and for Clinical Parasitology (ESGCP)

Leishmaniasis is a neglected, vector-borne disease caused by parasitic protozoa from the genus Leishmania, transmitted by the bites of sandflies from the genus Phlebotomus (in the ‘Old World’) or Lutzomyia (in the ‘New World’) [1,2]. It is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, affecting millions worldwide [3,4]. Clinical presentations, including cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral forms, vary by species, geography, and host factors. Leishmaniasis can be either anthroponotic (caused by Leishmania tropica or L. donovani) or zoonotic (caused by L. major, L. infantum, and others) [5]. As with many other vector-borne diseases, risk factors include poverty, malnutrition, conflict, forced displacement, climate change, and other environmental changes that influence vector distribution [6]. In non-endemic settings, leishmaniasis has been reported among travellers, migrants, and refugees [2,[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]]. In areas where sandflies are endemic, combined with imported cases, may pose a significant public health risk for autochthonous transmission [2,[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]]. Globally, a well-established association exists between intense armed conflict, climate, and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) [[9], [10], [11]].