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Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoal disease endemic in most cities of Iraq. The disease is caused by different species of the Leishmania genus via the bite of an infected female sandfly. Different species of the sandfly act as a vector for the parasite to the different mammalian host, and the human is considered as an incidental host for these parasites. This study was arranged to clarify the distribution of the disease in different regions of Al-Ramadi, Iraq. Materials and Methods: An observational descriptive study for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Ramadi was conducted for two years (2020 thru 2021). The disease was diagnosed depending on its cutaneous manifestations, while tissue smear and histopathology were done as a confirmatory test especially in atypical cases. Geographically, the city was divided into four regions: region A, region B, region C, and region D, each consisting of numerous districts. All patients were asked about their residence, houses construction, living within their farms, and animal breeding. Results: Three hundred and ninety-one patients were examined at the Dermatology Clinic of Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital during a period of two years (2020 thru 2021). There was a variation in the number of cases during the two years. 53.70% and 46.30% of the cases occurred during the year 2020 and 2021, respectively. The mainly affected part of the city was along the left side of the Euphrates River (region A, constituting 36.57%). Within this region, Albu-Ali Jassim district was mostly involved (29%). On the right side of the river, the City Centre, region C, was the least one affected (16.88%). The Al-Thalia district within the region C was mostly involved (14.3%). Conclusion: CL is an endemic disease in Al-Ramadi and represents a public health problem. A high rate of infection was recorded alongside the Euphrates River, especially the rural district, while it was low in the urban side of the city. Any parts of the city may be affected, yet Albu-Ali Jassim, Al-Tamim, Al-Sufia, and Al-Thalia were the most frequently involved regions of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlebotomine sandflies are an important group of insects from a medical perspective that are responsible for the transmission of leishmaniasis. The phenotypic and genotypic investigation of species of sand flies (Al-Harms) as the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis was conducted in the Erbil province-Iraq for the first time between January and December 2022. Out of 2054 collected samples 1137 (55.4%) were male and 917 (44.6%) were female. statistically, there is no correlation between gender and sandfly species at (P<0.20). Three species were identified as belonging to the genus Phlepotomus: P. papatasi, P. sergenti, and P. Alexandria. P. papatasi was the most common species, with 1163 (15.6%), followed by P. sergenti (598 (29.1%), and P. alexandri 293(14.1%). There were two peaks of seasonal abundance of sand flies, the first peak of the seasonally abundant cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors occurred in May, while the second peak occurred in September, statistically, there is a correlation between the periods and sand fly species at (p<0.00). The city's health system must take the necessary precautions to control sand fly species as the vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis disease. Controlling the sandflies will be a key to controlling (CL) disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by various species of the genus Leishmania via the bite of the different species of the vector infected female sandfly. It is an endemic disease in most Iraqi cities. This study was arranged to shed light on the epidemiological criteria of the disease in the city of Al-Ramadi. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study on cutaneous leishmaniasis in the city of Al-Ramadi was conducted over a three-year period from 2019 to 2021. The diagnosis of the disease was dependent mainly on the clinical features of the infection. Detailed information was obtained from all patients, who were grouped according to their age. Sites, numbers, and any previous scars were recorded during the clinical examination. Results: Five hundred and thirty-two patients affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis were examined in the dermatology clinic of Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital in a period of three years from 2019 to 2021. The prevalence rate was 59/100,000. The highest number of patients affected during the year 2020 constituted around 39.5% of the cases. Mostly, infections appeared during the winter months (December, January, and February). Those younger than 2o years were mainly attacked by cutaneous leishmaniasis, constituting 63.3%. Males were more involved than females (57.5%). The hands, face, and feet were the most commonly involved sites, corresponding to around 20.57%, 20.11%, and 17.68% of the cases, respectively. Conclusions: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Al-Ramadi, representing a public health problem for both the individuals and the community. For individuals, scarring of the face represents the main cosmetic and psychological trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]