The control of diseases caused by trypanosomatids, such as those caused by
Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, is focused on the use of drugs to treat
infected patients, which are limited by their high cost, high toxicity and safety
concerns, in the absence of an effective and safe vaccine for use in humans. Therefore,
new strategies for vaccines have emerged in the last years and better perspectives for
the future are expected. In this context, the aim of this chapter is to discuss the past,
present and future of vaccines against Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. In
addition, we indicate important aspects for the development of anti-trypanosomatids
vaccines.
Keywords: Antigens, Challenges, Epidemiology, Immunology, Trypanosomatids,
Vaccines.
