**4. Concluding remarks**

Leishmaniasis is one of the major neglected infectious diseases. Progress has been achieved in terms of treatment, including the development of combination therapy as well as our under‐ standing of the molecular nature of potential vaccine candidates following the completion of the genome sequence. The occurrence of drug resistance in disease-endemic countries is concerning and should be closely monitored. In spite of all these drawbacks, there is presently rapid progress in our understanding of the molecular nature of potential vaccine candidates. There is a need to develop more potent, cost effective drugs and vaccine candidates. Total eradication of leishmaniasis will depend on the combined efforts of governments, the scientific research community, the pharmaceutical industry and people with a view to reduce the transmission of disease, rapid diagnosis and appropriately targeted treatment of the various forms of leishmanisis. Understanding of the molecular nature of potential vaccine candidates could potentially lead to novel gene-based, plant-based and synthetic-based therapeutic approaches or a dependable cure for leishmaniasis.
