The utility of exoantigens for detection of Leishmania infections

Exoantigens released by Leishmania promastigotes were the subject of a workshop held in Mombasa, Kenya. Investigators from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (Silver Spring, Maryland) met with scientists from government and academic institutes and industry to review the current global status of leishmaniasis and to explore the potential role of exoantigens in the detection of Leishmania in the vertebrate host and arthropod vector. Some encouraging data, particularly in the immunodiagnosis of leishmaniasis, were shared. The participants concluded that the meeting provided a unique opportunity for investigators working on various aspects of the problem to network and to forge productive collaborations that could potentially lead to the development of more-effective tools to counter this persistent and expanding threat. They recommended periodic meetings to assess interval progress, to revise timelines, and to set achievable goals. The meeting also highlighted the importance of Leishmania infection in the 21st century, with more movement of people from disease-endemic to non-disease-endemic countries. Increased incidence and geographic spread of leishmaniasis emphasize the need for better and more reliable detection methods. Exoantigen-based diagnostic devices hold promise in this direction.