Leishmaniasis in the Sudan: a literature review with emphasis on clinical aspects

The literature on the leishmaniases in the Sudan is reviewed with ari empha sis on clinical aspects and on literature related to the recent outbreaks i n the south and east of the country. The numbers of cases of subclinical in fection and post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis in the recent outbreaks are remarkable. New diagnostic techniques have been introduced and evaluated, notably the direct agglutination lest and polymerase chain reaction technol ogy. The latter gives very promising results and further research into appl ication of the technique is warranted. Treatment with pentavalent antimony is still satisfactory. The reservoir host has not been identified definitel y.