Pathogenic Significance of Trypanosomatids: Progress in Drug Resistance, Control Strategies, and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

, are protozoan parasites of significant medical and veterinary relevance. These organisms cause African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis, which are classified as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). NTDs continue to present major public health challenges, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic impacts. Chemotherapeutic interventions remain constrained by toxicity, high cost, limited accessibility, and the increasing prevalence of drug resistance. Significantly, there is a tight relationship between pathogenesis and drug resistance because processes that facilitate intracellular persistence, immunological evasion, and metabolic adaptation can also decrease drug sensitivity and increase treatment failure. This interaction makes it easier for more pathogenic and resilient strains to arise, which makes disease treatment and control more difficult. The absence of effective vaccines underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Advances in molecular parasitology have elucidated unique organellar structures, immune evasion mechanisms, and metabolic pathways in trypanosomatids, providing new therapeutic targets. Additionally, artificial intelligence and computational methodologies are facilitating drug discovery, predicting resistance, and improving diagnostics. In this review, we provide a narrative overview of current knowledge of trypanosomatid biology, prevalence, drug resistance mechanisms, and emerging control strategies. By integrating classical parasitology with computational approaches, new opportunities are identified to address resistance, enhance therapy, and mitigate the global health burden of trypanosomatid infections.