Advances in research on domestic animals as hosts of Leishmania

Since leishmaniasis was defined as one of the neglected tropical diseases(NTD) by the WHO,the prevention and control of leishmaniasis has attracted greater attentions.Controlling the source of infection is an important step in preventing and controlling communicable diseases.Without question,people and dogs infected with Leishmania are important sources of infection.However,mounting research has found that domestic animals are infected with Leishmania or they play a role in the transmission of leishmaniasis.Advances in research on domestic animals as hosts of Leishmania are reviewed in this paper.