Abstract
Abstract Parasitic diseases caused by unicellular protozoa account for a substantial burden of morbidity, mortality and economic deprivation across the globe. Current drugs for the treatment of such infections, particularly malaria, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis, are inadequate and new therapies are being sought. A review of currently available therapies for protozoal infections of medical importance is presented. Potential new treatments in the drug development pathway are also discussed. There is currently only one vaccine in use for any human protozoal disease, a malaria vaccine (Mosquirix) administered to children as part of a three‐country pilot study. Therefore, drug treatments continue to be the main source of protozoan parasite control. Key Concepts Parasitic protozoa exert a large burden of morbidity and mortality in humans. Most of the burden of protozoal infections occurs in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Important human diseases caused by protozoa include malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Drug resistance threatens the limited number of drugs used to treat protozoal diseases. No vaccines are yet registered for use against human protozoal disease. Several novel drug treatments for malaria are currently being tested in human trials. Most new treatments emerging for leishmaniasis and South American trypanosomiasis are from drug repurposing (‘therapeutic switching’) from other diseases.
Published Version
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