The specialist in human parasites explained to the students of the Master’s Degree in Tropical Parasitic Diseases the details of this infectious disease.

On November 2, the doctor Lucrecia Acosta Soto, lecturer in the Department of Parasitology of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (Alicante) gave a conference in the module of Human Protozoan about Leishmaniosis, paying special attention to zoonotic transmissions. 

The lecturer Lucrecia Acosta, former student of the Master’s Degree in Tropical Parasitic Diseases of the Universitat de València, has been focused, during a large part of her professional career, on the study of the leishmaniosis epidemiology. This is, one of the most important parasitic disease globally. 

In endemic zones of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (LVZ), dogs are considered the most important reservoir. Furthermore, the high prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (Lcan) is associated with the transmission of the infection to humans. The doctor Acosta explained the students

the cumulative incidence, the risk factors and how to contribute to the establishment of prevention and control over the disease measures, for both, dogs and humans. 

In addition, the lecturer Acosta reviewed the current Leprosy situation, and shared with the students her experience as responsible of the Molecular Diagnostics and Research of the Sanatorio Fontilles (referral centre of Leprosy in Spain), institution where she currently is a scientific advisor.