Leishmaniasis has been categorized by the World Health Organization as a «re-emerging and uncontrolled disease». This re-emergence, which may be linked to climate change, has detrimental effect on the development of endemic countries. Current treatment strategies involve various drugs, the use of which is (or will be) associated to the development of esistance. Moreover, such treatments are usually quite expensive compared to the actual wealth of the affected nations. Indeed, as leishmaniasis is principally affecting developing countries, strategies aiming at controlling the disease will need to be affordable.
Since vaccination is expected to be the most cost-effective mean of control, it appears as the solution of choice for a global control and/or eradication of the parasite infection.

The geographical distribution of leishmaniasis is restricted to tropical and temperate regions