Preface

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries. NTDs affect more than one billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NTDs mainly affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation, and in close contact with infectious vectors, domestic animals, and livestock. Migration, as well as climate change and variability, are key factors in NTD prevalence (11-13). Therefore, NTDs deserve more study.

Recently, viruses transmitted by vectors (arboviruses) that affect not only people living in the tropics, but also travelers and migrating populations, have been causing epidemics. These viruses include Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and encephalitis viruses. These viruses emerge and reemerge in multiple regions of the world, as occurred in the Americas recently (2013-2017) with Chikungunya and Zika.

Keeping these issues in mind, this book includes different aspects of research and clinical topics related to relevant NTDs, including their implications for public health. This book has been organized in two sections: I. Vector-Borne Diseases; and, II. Zoonotic Diseases. Section I includes topics related to Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya, and vector control. Section II includes experiences on Leprosy and Chagas Disease.

Commissioning of this book by IntechOpen was due, in part to my long commitment to vector-borne, zoonotic, and neglected tropical diseases, being involved as Co-Chair of the Working Group on Zoonoses of the International Society for Chemotherapy (WGZ-ISC), as well in Colombia at the Committee on Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, ACIN) and more recently, as the Chair of the Colombian Collaborative Network of Research on Zika (Red Colombiana de Colaboración en Zika) (RECOLZIKA), since January 2016.

I have been involved in NTDs for the last two decades, including Leishmaniasis, Chagas Disease, and Dengue, and since 2014, Chikungunya and emerging arboviruses, such as Zika and Mayaro. After moving from Venezuela to Colombia in 2011, I have been involved in NTD research in Risaralda, such as Leishmaniasis (still prevalent in the area). Part of this work is a clear reflection of the work mission at the Research Group Infection Public Health and Infection (classified A1 by Colciencias) of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, directed by Dr. Guillermo Javier Lagos-Grisales, who is not just a partner, colleague, and friend, but also an extreme believer in our work in vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. I must also recognize the beginning of a significant collaboration after a meeting in Cartagena in 2013, during the

**II**

**Chapter 7 109**

**Chapter 8 123**

**Chapter 9 135**

Impact of Reconstructive Surgery (RCS) among Leprosy

Neglected Tropical Diseases Pathogen and Human Genetic Interaction in the Genomic Era: Opportunities for (Sub-Saharan)

*by Debajanee Lenka, Amarendra Mohapatra and Chittaranjan Kar*

Patients: A Social Appraisal

African Scientists to Get on Board

Epidemiology and Ecology of Leishmaniasis

*by Issiaka Soulama*

*by Tonay Inceboz*

Colombian Congress of Infectious Diseases, where I met Dr. Wilmer Ernesto Villamil-Gómez, from Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia, also part of the formerly known Committee of Zoonoses and Hemorrhagic Fevers of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, ACIN) (now called Committee of Zoonoses and Tropical Medicine), who became my most important collaborator on arboviruses, including Zika. In addition to this, since 2002 I have been involved in tropical medicine and travel medicine, participating in multiple studies on Chagas Disease, Leishmaniasis, and other tropical diseases. Currently in Colombia, we continue to study most of them, including in internally displaced populations.

Following the same philosophy as my eight previous books with IntechOpen (Current Topics in Tropical Medicine, Current Topics in Public Health, Current Topics in Echinococcosis, Current Topics in Chikungunya, Current Topics in Malaria, Current Topics in Giardiasis, Current Topics in Zika, Current Topics in Tropical Emerging Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine this book does not intend to be an exhaustive compilation. This first edition has included multiple different topics and a wide geographical participation from many countries from different regions of the world. Its online availability, as well the possibility to upload the complete book or their chapters to personal websites and institution repositories, allows it to reach a wide. Continuing on the series of "Current Topics" books, we are planning to develop other projects such as "Current Topics in Zoonoses" and "Current Topics in Virology".

I would like to thank IntechOpen, and particularly to Andrea Koric (Commissioning Editor), for the opportunity to edit this interesting and important book, as well for her constant support.

I want to take the appropriate time and space to dedicate this book to my beloved family (Aurora, Alfonso José, Alejandro, and Andrea, the neurologist). Katterine, also I need to dedicate this book and further, to you. You arrived unexpectedly in my life to make it happier than ever. I love you with all my heart, my mind, and my soul.

Also, to my friends and my undergraduate and postgraduate students of health sciences in Colombia, Venezuela, and around Latin America. Thank you to my colleagues at the Working Group on Zoonoses, International Society for Chemotherapy, and the Committee on Zoonoses, Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine (formerly Zoonoses and Haemorrhagic Fevers) of the ACIN and a large list of members of RECOLZIKA (www.RECOLZIKA.org). Special thanks again to my friend and colleague Dr. Guillermo J. Lagos-Grisales, MD, MPH. Members of our research group and incubator consist of young and enthusiastic medical students and some veterinary medical students as well as young medical doctors, who are pursuing significant improvements in the understanding of the epidemiology of zoonotic, vector-borne, parasitic, and infectious diseases in our country with international projection. 2019 has been a great year, very productive for this recognized group, which was classified in 2017 by the national agency of science, Colciencias, in the highest rank "A1", and then recognized again in 2019 with that rank, therefore positioning themselves as leaders in infectious diseases epidemiology research in the coffee-triangle region and in the country.

**V**

Finally, I hope our readers enjoy this publication as much as I did editing the chap-

**Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales, MD, MSc, DTM&H, FRSTMH(Lon),**

Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Risk Factors (Epidemiology) (Coordinator),

**FFTM RCPS(Glasg), FACE, PhD(c), Dr h c(HonDSc)**

Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine,

Chair, Colombian Network of Research in Zika (RECOLZIKA)

Vice President, Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (ACIN),

Lecturer, Frontiers Research, Research IV, School of Veterinary Medicine & Zootechnics, Director of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences,

> Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia

Co-Chair, Working Group on Zoonoses,

Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, ACIN,

President, Committee on Travel Medicine, Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases, Senior Researcher, Colciencias (2019-2021)

International Society for Chemotherapy (ISC),

Member of the Committee on Tropical Medicine,

President, ACIN Chapter Coffee Triangle Region,

Professor,

ters of Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Finally, I hope our readers enjoy this publication as much as I did editing the chapters of Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases.

## **Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales, MD, MSc, DTM&H, FRSTMH(Lon), FFTM RCPS(Glasg), FACE, PhD(c), Dr h c(HonDSc)** Professor, Part-Time Faculty Instructor, Risk Factors (Epidemiology) (Coordinator), Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Lecturer, Frontiers Research, Research IV, School of Veterinary Medicine & Zootechnics, Director of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia Chair, Colombian Network of Research in Zika (RECOLZIKA) Co-Chair, Working Group on Zoonoses, International Society for Chemotherapy (ISC), Vice President, Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (ACIN), Member of the Committee on Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, ACIN, President, ACIN Chapter Coffee Triangle Region,

President, Committee on Travel Medicine, Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases,

Senior Researcher, Colciencias (2019-2021)

**IV**

populations.

"Current Topics in Virology".

the coffee-triangle region and in the country.

her constant support.

soul.

Colombian Congress of Infectious Diseases, where I met Dr. Wilmer Ernesto Villamil-Gómez, from Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia, also part of the formerly known Committee of Zoonoses and Hemorrhagic Fevers of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, ACIN) (now called Committee of Zoonoses and Tropical Medicine), who became my most important collaborator on arboviruses, including Zika. In addition to this, since 2002 I have been involved in tropical medicine and travel medicine, participating in multiple studies on Chagas Disease, Leishmaniasis, and other tropical diseases. Currently in Colombia, we continue to study most of them, including in internally displaced

Following the same philosophy as my eight previous books with IntechOpen (Current Topics in Tropical Medicine, Current Topics in Public Health, Current Topics in Echinococcosis, Current Topics in Chikungunya, Current Topics in Malaria, Current Topics in Giardiasis, Current Topics in Zika, Current Topics in Tropical Emerging Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine this book does not intend to be an exhaustive compilation. This first edition has included multiple different topics and a wide geographical participation from many countries from different regions of the world. Its online availability, as well the possibility to upload the complete book or their chapters to personal websites and institution repositories, allows it to reach a wide. Continuing on the series of "Current Topics" books, we are planning to develop other projects such as "Current Topics in Zoonoses" and

I would like to thank IntechOpen, and particularly to Andrea Koric (Commissioning Editor), for the opportunity to edit this interesting and important book, as well for

I want to take the appropriate time and space to dedicate this book to my beloved family (Aurora, Alfonso José, Alejandro, and Andrea, the neurologist). Katterine, also I need to dedicate this book and further, to you. You arrived unexpectedly in my life to make it happier than ever. I love you with all my heart, my mind, and my

Also, to my friends and my undergraduate and postgraduate students of health sciences in Colombia, Venezuela, and around Latin America. Thank you to my colleagues at the Working Group on Zoonoses, International Society for Chemotherapy, and the Committee on Zoonoses, Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine (formerly Zoonoses and Haemorrhagic Fevers) of the ACIN and a large list of members of RECOLZIKA (www.RECOLZIKA.org). Special thanks again to my friend and colleague Dr. Guillermo J. Lagos-Grisales, MD, MPH. Members of our research group and incubator consist of young and enthusiastic medical students and some veterinary medical students as well as young medical doctors, who are pursuing significant improvements in the understanding of the epidemiology of zoonotic, vector-borne, parasitic, and infectious diseases in our country with international projection. 2019 has been a great year, very productive for this recognized group, which was classified in 2017 by the national agency of science, Colciencias, in the highest rank "A1", and then recognized again in 2019 with that rank, therefore positioning themselves as leaders in infectious diseases epidemiology research in

**1**

Section 1

Vector - Borne Diseases

## Section 1
