Leishmaniasis, once mostly seen in travelers returning to the United States from tropical regions, has become endemic in the country, with a new vaccine developed at The Ohio State University showing promise for prevention as of June 25. The infection is caused by leishmania parasites transmitted through bites from infected female sand flies.
Abhay Satoskar, MD, PhD, a pathologist specializing in parasitology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said that at least one in ten people worldwide is at risk of contracting leishmaniasis. There are three primary forms: cutaneous (resulting in skin sores), mucosal (causing lesions on mucosal areas such as the mouth and nose), and visceral (affecting internal organs and potentially fatal if untreated). Symptoms may not appear immediately and can manifest months or even more than a year after infection.
Satoskar said previous vaccines used live parasites or antibiotic-resistant genes and were not safe enough for humans. His research team used CRISPR gene-editing technology to remove a gene from the cutaneous leishmania parasite to create a safer vaccine. "It worked beyond my imagination, to be honest," Satoskar said about the effectiveness of the vaccine he helped develop. Animal studies have shown 100% effectiveness, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it as an investigational new drug in 2025.
The team is preparing for human trials of their leishmaniasis vaccine in Kenya and Brazil with plans to add a U.S. trial site. Satoskar said awareness remains important because many physicians in the United States do not recognize this newer disease: "A mysterious skin disease they’re seeing may be leishmaniasis," he says. "We’re hoping to get the word out to educate more people."
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