Abstract:
There are potential overlapping distributions of the protozoan parasite Leishmania and the parasitic helminth
Schistosoma mansoni in eastern Africa most notably in endemic regions in the Sudan and Kenya. In murine
model studies, the Th1-Th2 model of CD4+ T helper cell differentiation is a well-established paradigm for
understanding the basis of protective versus pathogenic immune responses in the concomitance state that
result in enhanced pathological changes and impaired parasite resolution. In complementation to the
experimental studies, the concern for presages of human leishmaniases and schistosomiasis co-infections
occurring is increased by their chronicity, displacement of people between endemic areas owing to conflict,
climatic changes due to human activities, the spread through irrigation, pisciculture, water conservation
schemes and human mobility in pursuit of economic dynamics and resources. Based on diseases
prevalence, epidemiology and analyzing the associated risk factors undercurrents, several portents of
comorbidity in Kenya are pinpointed. Taking into consideration the limited local resources and diminished
surveillance of the areas affected by the two neglected tropical diseases, the discourse concludes that
elimination of the diseases is still a challenge. There is need for pilot studies and/or elaborate field
surveillance of concomitance and development strategies to mitigate the impending defy in Kenya and
beyond.
