Preface

Chapter 8 **Praziquantel and Arachidonic Acid Combination — An**

Chapter 9 **The Role of Chiggers as Human Pathogens 173**

Santibáñez and José A. Oteo

**VI** Contents

Hatem Tallima, Kevin Hadley and Rashika El Ridi

**Innovative Approach to the Treatment of Schistosomiasis 145**

Paula Santibáñez, Ana M. Palomar, Aránzazu Portillo, Sonia

Changes in the eating habits as well as lifestyle of people have led to the development of non-com‐ municable diseases in most developed countries and have set the tone for an epidemiological transi‐ tion in most developing countries. However, infectious diseases still constitute an important cause of mortality, particularly in the tropical regions. There have been efforts from the international com‐ munity represented by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as from many other govern‐ mental and non-governmental organisations to control some of the common diseases in the tropical regions of the world, while many have been neglected for a long time. Therefore, an overview of the progress in our understanding of certain tropical diseases is critical.

Tuberculosis and malaria constitute two important tropical diseases, and progress has been made for the reduction of the prevalence of these infections but more importantly their control through diagnosis and treatment. The present book has identified a number of tropical diseases in order to clarify recent advances in the research pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of these infections. Other tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis have also been discussed in the book. Of all the amoebas, *Dientamoeba fragilis* infections have not been well studied, and very little attention has been paid to this pathogen. However, recent epidemiological studies have shown an increase in the number of reported cases showing its growing impact in the society, which warrants further investigations on its role in the production of gastrointestinal symptoms among humans. Similarly, chiggers are not only confined to developing countries but are being described in some developed countries as well, where they affect both animals and humans.

This book follows in the footsteps of other books published by InTech on tropical diseases and high‐ lights some infections that have been dealt with intensively such as tuberculosis and malaria but also some that have not been much researched on and might affect both humans and animals (chiggers) or mostly animals (dirofilariasis). The chapters have been organised in order starting from the bacte‐ rial disease (tuberculosis) followed by the protozoan diseases (malaria, *Dientamoeba fragilis, Leishma‐ nia* ), followed by the worms (dirofilariasis and schistosomiasis) and concluding with the arthropod (shiggers). Many of the chapters discuss issues related to the treatment or control of the diseases either at the level of treatment or through vector control, except for some that give a complete view of the disease from epidemiology to control. This by no means is an exhaustive list of tropical diseas‐ es, but the intention is to initiate the discussion on new ways of controlling tropical diseases and to raise awareness on certain diseases that might not have been at the forefront of research but that are progressively making an impact on the health of communities around the world.

> **Prof. Amidou Samie** Department of Microbiology University of Venda Limpopo, South Africa
