The relationship between leishmaniasis and weather

Abstract

Leishmaniasis has a direct relationship with the lifestyle and breeding habits of the fly vectors, and these have been reported to be influenced by environmental factors. Some of the aspects of weather that affect the distribution and densities of sandflies include temperature changes, rain and relative humidity. The aim of this systematic review is to compare the climatic data of patients suffering from cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis and analyse the effect of weather and climatic drivers on the incidence of these diseases. A total of 17 articles were reviewed with different geographical aspects to make it a diversified research study. The findings of the study revealed that temperature is the major aspect of cutaneous leishmaniasis prevalence. The increase in temperature provides the survival and development of sand flies, which are primary vectors responsible for the transmission of leishmaniasis parasites. In addition, the patterns of rainfall are significant in shaping the epidemiology of CL, with increased rainfall creating suitable and optimal conditions for sand flies, which share the contribution towards the higher incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Overall, this research study is significant for exploring different climatic conditions with respect to leishmaniasis and understanding its impact.