02078nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001700054653001200071653003900083653001700122653001800139653000900157100001200166700001200178700001200190245004800202300001100250490000700261520156600268022001401834       2019                            d  c12/201910aMicromineral10aSandfly10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aMalnutrition10aLeishmaniasis10aDiet1 aNweze J1 aNweze E1 aOnoja U00aNutrition, malnutrition, and leishmaniasis.  a1107120 v733 a<p>Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne infectious disease with a long history of infecting humans and other animals. It is a known emerging or resurging disease. The host nutritional state has an indispensable role in defense against pathogens. The host defense system disorganization as a result of undernutrition is responsible for asymptomatic infections and even severe diseases. Host susceptibility and pathophysiologic severity to infection can be aggravated owing to undernourishment in a number of pathways, and infection also may aggravate preexisting poor nutrition or further increase host susceptibility. This study suggests that there may be some relationship between malnutrition and the endemicity of the parasite. The susceptibility to and severity of leishmanial infection can be altered by the body weight and serum levels of micronutrients. Nutrition not only affects the vulnerability of the host but also may affect the desire of sandfly to bite a specific host. Apart from host defense mechanism, nutritional stress also greatly influences vector competence and host-seeking behavior, especially during larvae development. The host and sandfly vector nutritional states could also influence the evolution of the parasite. It is essential to elucidate the roles that diets and nutrition play in the leishmanial life cycle. The aim of this article is to review the influences of nutrition and diets on the host susceptibility and severity of infection, preemptive and therapeutic strategy feedback, parasite evolution, and vector competence.</p>  a1873-1244