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Cutaneous leishmaniasis, the most common form of leishmaniasis, causes long-term skin lesions on exposed areas of the skin. It is caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted via infected phlebotomine sand flies. In North Africa, particularly Algeria, the disease represents a major public health problem. This retrospective study, which focuses on the agropastoral region of Djelfa (central Algeria) during a period of 16 years, from 2006 to 2021, is part of the surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis to identify the key factors favouring its probable spread. The analyzed data reveal that this disease is more prevalent in male patients (53.60%) and is highly widespread in this vast area of 66,415 km2 with a total of 3864 CL cases, reaching a peak of 1407 cases in 2006. Statistically, the Pearson correlation validated by the p-value shows, in an original and sometimes unexpected way, that certain factors, such as temperature linked to climate change, are playing a significant role in the probable spread of the disease in Djelfa and its surrounding regions. The concentration of the population in some specific rural areas with limited or nonexistent access to public health services is another potential factor in disease transmission. The results were highlighted by a significant correlation coefficient ( r = 0.66 ) with a p-value less than 0.01. While there is currently no vaccine or prophylactic drug available, our research represents a preliminary approach that addresses various epidemiological aspects of the disease. This paves the way for a proactive preventive strategy involving the control of vector-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caused by the Leishmania parasite and transmitted by the bite of sand flies, leishmaniasis is a multi-factor disease which causes a big health problem. Anarchic, accelerated, and unplanned urbanization, as well as inadequate environmental hygiene and important human migratory flows constitute risk factors for Leishmaniasis. From this point of view and through the present study, the risk factors of leishmaniasis that represent the impact of the population, urbanization, and poverty on the distribution of the disease in the study area have been evaluated. The health data for this study were obtained from the registers of the prefectural of epidemiology unit. However, the socio-economic data were obtained from the High Commissioner's Office of Morocco. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software. The evolution of the annual number of leishmaniasis cases reported during the study period shows that the provinces most affected by this epidemic are the provinces of Taza and Taounate with 25%, as well as Boulemane (18%) and Sefrou (16%). In addition, the study of the risk factors of this epidemic shows a positive correlation between leishmaniasis cases reported and urbanization (R = 0, 51) and a weak correlation between demographic weight and leishmaniasis cases reported (R = 0, 27). However, there is no relationship between the distribution of leishmaniasis and poverty. These results show the impact of socioeconomic factors on the distribution of leishmaniasis in the Fez-Meknes region. Indeed, actors should take these results into consideration when determining risk areas in order to develop a leishmaniasis alert system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a major health problem caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania, most commonly transmitted by infected female sand flies. Intersectoral collaboration is essential for the implementation of integrated vector management control with community participation. The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the population toward leishmaniasis in central Morocco. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an administered questionnaire assisted by health professionals, on 750 people in the Marrakech Safi, endemic region of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Of those, 702 agreed to be recruited for our study, of which 63,5% were women, 48,1% were aged between 18 and 40 years, and more than half of the participants (60%) were from rural areas. Overall, the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) for leishmaniasis are too poor for more than 85% of the population in the study area. Basic knowledge and perceptions of leishmaniasis were good for 14,6% of respondents. While, 4,5% of the members had good knowledge of CL, only 0,7% had good level of knowledge about vesciral leishmaniasis (VL). Furthermore 3,7% of those polled have favorable attitudes and preventive practices. No association was found between knowledge and age, province or occupation. However, rural residents were four times more likely than urbain residents to have good basic knowledge (ORA = 4,74; CI95%: 1,04 -22,05). In addition, the female gender also has the chance to possess good basic knowledge and perceptions 3 times more than the men (ORA = 3,18; CI95%: 1,16 -8,69). The low level of KAPs regarding leishmaniasis proves the lack of community participation in the fight against leishmaniasis in central Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is endemic in Morocco where both cutaneous and visceral forms coexist. To date, anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) determinants remain poorly investigated in Morocco. However, the disease risk factors identification is vital to determine the specific preventive process. In this aim, a case-control study was conducted in the main active ACL foci in central Morocco. Epidemiological data were extracted from bulletins, registers and annual reports of the regional direction of Health offices. The socioeconomic and environmental data were collected from epidemiological surveys, completed by a questionnaire intended for accessible positive population and control people selected from the cases' entourage. The study included 258 cases and 395 controls. Our results showed that many socioeconomic factors were associated with ACL in Morocco such as the rural habitation (OR = 4.163; 95% CI: 2.91–5.96), movement to endemic area (OR = 4.53; 95% CI: 3.03–6.77), provenance from leishmaniasis foci (in Essaouira focus OR = 5.34; 95% CI: 1.19–24.03) and poverty. In addition, environmental factors like proximity of vegetation (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.14–5.25), poor domestic hygiene, particularly the absence of sewage system/waste management (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.35–1.96), and presence of animals (OR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.14–5.25) increase the risk of ACL in Morocco. Except for Matrimonial status (married people, OR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.80–9.41), there is however no significant association of the disease with the other socio-demographic factors in the study area (p>0.05). These several risk factors must be taken in consideration to prevent this disease through multidisciplinary collaboration and community participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania spp. and transmitted by female sandflies. Terrorism and counter-insurgency military operations in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) lead to a large-scale migration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and thus, new outbreaks of several infectious diseases such as cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred. This study intended to find the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in people with cutaneous lesions suspected of having cutaneous leishmaniasis in four remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to assess the participant's knowledge, attitude, and practices about the infection and its control. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in four remote districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Karak, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan (D. I. Khan) and a total of 1,674 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Results: The prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis among the participants with cutaneous lesions was 50.4% and the infection was comparatively more prevalent in district Karak. Among participants, 56.8% were male and mostly, 53.8% were under the age of 16 years with 52.8% living in kutcha houses and were from rural areas. Multiple skin lesions were more common, and the face was frequently affected body part. The ratio of participants with lesions older than a month was higher and the majority confronted infections with blood protozoan parasites for the first time. Most participants were unaware of the signs/symptoms of the disease, basic knowledge of the vectors, anthroponotic spread, preventive measures, secondary infections, and reservoir hosts. The use of wood/animal dung as fuel, closeness with reservoir animals, and no use of insect repellents were some of the notable risk factors. Conclusion: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is highly prevalent in the study area and a very low level of awareness was reported among the participants. This study necessitates the planning and execution of regulations and preventive programs, public health education, awareness campaigns, and disease management practices to overcome future incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a neglected tropical disease characterized by a wide geographical distribution in the Mediterranean basin and is endemic in several of its countries. In addition, the vector Phlebotomus sergenti is abundantly present all around the basin. Its transmission cycle is still subject to debate. In some countries, the presence of an animal reservoir has been confirmed. In Morocco, CL due to L. tropica has risen since the 1980s and has spread widely to become the most abundant form of leishmaniasis in the territory. However, the anthroponotic transmission is so far the only recognized mode, despite recordings of L. tropica infection in animal hosts. In this review article, we assess the situation of CL due to L. tropica in the Mediterranean basin with a focus on Morocco and gather knowledge about any potential zoonotic transmission in the country. A concomitant zoonotic transmission could explain the persistence of the disease in areas where human protective measures combined with vector management did not help reduce the disease burden. Author summary: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a neglected tropical disease still considered to be anthroponotic in Morocco despite evidence of zoonotic transmission in other endemic countries of the Mediterranean basin. Its high incidence in the country makes it necessary to investigate whether or not a potential concomitant zoonotic transmission exists alongside the anthroponotic one. Moreover, several reports of natural animal infection have been noted in the country. In this paper, we review how CL due to L. tropica is present around the Mediterranean basin, with a particular focus on the Moroccan foci, and try to unveil the existence of a zoonotic transmission in the area. A deep understanding of the transmission patterns of L. tropica in the region is necessary for the implementation of effective control measures and a better assessment of the disease burden. In addition, the complexity of this neglected disease requires more fundamental and applied research to unveil potential factors involved in its spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]