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The Asteraceae family is well known for its toxic and repellent activity against mosquitoes. In this study, essential oils (EOs) extracted from the aerial parts of both wild and cultivated Artemisia campestris L. plants were tested for larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae), a pest mosquito widely suspected to be the vector responsible for West Nile virus transmission. The research aims at comparing the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of cultivated and wild A. campestris EOs. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation from the plant's aerial parts and were analyzed using GC-MS. Furthermore, the larviciding experiment was carried out following the standard WHO protocol. The result showed that wild and cultivated plant EOs differed only quantitatively, while the qualitative profile revealed a nearly identical chemical composition. Camphor (18.98%), car-3-en-5-one (11.25%), thujone (6.36%), chrysanthenone (6.24%), filifolone (4.56%), and borneol (3.56%) dominate the wild plant EO. Camphor (21.01%), car-3-en-5-one (17%), chrysanthenone (10.15%), filifolone (7.90%), borneol (3.38%), and thujone (3.08%) are the major compounds of the cultivated plant. Cultivation did not affect the EO production since the yield of the cultivated plant was 0.5 ± 0.1% and 0.6 ± 0.2% for the wild plant. The cultivated A. campestris EO had the highest insecticidal activity (LC50 = 9.79 µg/ml), and no significant difference was noticed between wild and cultivated A. campestris EO in terms of LC90. These findings could pave the way for a new method of producing biocides to control major disease vectors and offer a potential alternative for pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a serious public and veterinary health concern. Species of the subgenus Larroussius are the suspected and proven vectors of the leishmaniasis visceral form. This study was aimed at investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) and characterizing its habitats using satellite images. The entomological sampling was based on a preliminary stratification of the study area, in which the sandflies were collected at 12 selected stations in Fez City using sticky paper traps. The environmental factors studied for each station were land surface temperature (LST), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and soil moisture index (SMI). Correlations between the number of species of sandflies and each of the environmental factors were evaluated using Pearson's correlation. Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05 (95% confidence level). Two species of the subgenus Larroussius, which are vectors of visceral leishmaniasis, Ph. perniciosus (96.54%) and Ph. longicuspis (3.46%), were found in the collected 231 specimens. Statistical analysis of the environmental factors also demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the number of Ph. perniciosus and LST in all environments. However, the correlation between the isolated species and NDVI was not strong and only significant in the urban area (r = 0.79, p = 0.0018), and no significant correlation was found with the SMI. The findings of this study could help health authorities develop appropriate future vector control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandflies are proven vectors of several viruses, bacteria, and parasites, causing many vector-borne diseases like leishmaniasis. Morocco aims to eliminate the disease by 2030. However, this disease continues to be a public health issue in the country despite all the efforts to limit its spread. The present study evaluated the knowledge, practices, and behaviors of university students regarding sandflies as leishmaniasis vectors. From April to July 2018, 385 students were interviewed using a pretest questionnaire. A score of 1 was assigned to every correct answer concerning knowledge and practice variables, and a mark of 0 was assigned to any incorrect answers or unanswered questions. Pearson's Chi-square (χ²) test was used to analyze the association between the independent variables and the level of knowledge and practices. A statistically significant association is demonstrated when p < 0.05. Students had an intermediate level of understanding of leishmaniasis vectors, with a knowledge score of 5.61 out of 10. The level of prevention practices, however, only received a 1.63 out of 4 rating. The field of study in high school and knowledge, as well as prevention methods and demographic factors, such as the field of study in high school and academic level, were also found to be significantly correlated (p = 0.000). The findings of this study demonstrate the significance of implementing various levels of awarenessraising and educational initiatives among university students, as it represents a crucial step to enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and preventive actions regarding this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation in nursing is considered an innovative pedagogy for the development of clinical skills of nursing staff. A National Forum was held for the first time in Morocco concerning the pedagogy of simulation in nursing to raise awareness among educators and practitioners on the educational value of such an initiative in the field of nursing. The goals of this study were to describe the development of the first National Forum in Morocco on Nursing Simulation and to assess the satisfaction of participants with the different activities of this national event. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were used to assess the level of participant satisfaction with the simulation. This event gathered more than 250 participants from different Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (HINPHT) of Morocco during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June 2022 held at the HINPHT institute of Fez. 163 participants agreed to take part in our satisfaction survey in which 39.3% were nursing teachers and 6.7% were directors of nursing and technical health professions training institutes and 41.7% were nursing students. The participants evaluated the different pillars of the first National Forum on Nursing Simulation in Morocco and reported a general satisfaction of 80.8%. Directors showed higher satisfaction with the organization with a score of 88.89% (p = 0.001), while teachers reported higher satisfaction with the Master Class workshop (65.27%; p = 0.003). Students' satisfaction scores were positively correlated (86.36%; p = 0.004) with the usefulness and applicability of the knowledge acquired during the event. Nevertheless, dissatisfaction was recorded with the mediation of the Forum (8.6%), the duration of the Master Class (13.5%), and the quality of the technical and logistical material used (7.4%). These aspects should be improved in future editions. The findings of this scientific event could be of great interest to the organizers of future forums on nursing simulation in the Maghreb region and Africa more generally, and could serve as a model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food hygiene is important both for its impact on the health of citizens and also for the cost of the infections that it can generate. In Morocco, it has become a concern of authorities. This work, realized for the first time in the center of Morocco, is aimed at describing the microbiological quality of foodstuffs marketed in collective catering in central Morocco. This study was conducted retrospectively from January 2015 to December 2019 in Fez city, central Morocco. The samples collected by the competent authority during official control from restaurants and food outlets were analyzed. Non-conformity was chosen as an indicator of food quality according to the official Moroccan standards. The samples were presented according to several variables: year/month/season, category/subcategory, communes, and establishment. The statistical processing of the results was done by SPSS 25. The Chi2 statistical test was calculated to determine a relationship between non-conformity and the type of analyzed matrix (year, season, and food category). The test was considered statistically significant for a p value < 0.05. A total of 2223 food samples were investigated, with an annual average of 445 samples. Overall, the rate of non-compliance during 2015-2019 was 31%, reaching its maximum in 2017 (36.4%) and its minimum in 2018 (27.5%).This rate varies by food type. Juices/drinks and meat products are the most contaminated with 71.7% and 58.1%, respectively, followed by milk and derivatives with 43.2%, seasoning sauces with 28.6%, pastries and pastry creams with 21.4%, and 14.4% for ready meals. The main causes of food non-conformity were fecal contamination germs with 67% positive fecal coliforms and 15% of total coliforms followed by total germs (7%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%), yeasts and molds (3%), sulfite-reducing anaerobes (2%), and Salmonella (1%). Given the obtained results, improving the hygienic quality of foods is necessary to ensure better consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandflies are small insects belonging to the order Diptera, which make up the Phlebotominae subfamily within the Psychodidae family. In the fight against leishmaniasis in the prefecture of Meknes, Morocco, a study of the phlebotomist population was carried out during the period of activity of sandflies while studying the link between the abundance of these insects and climatic factors, namely, temperature, moisture, rainfall, and wind speed. A total of 958 phlebotomus were captured, 73% of which belong to Phlebotomus sergenti, a vector of Leishmania species causing human cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study also showed the existence of two months of risk in July and September with a positive correlation between temperature and abundance of sandflies and a negative correlation between abundance of sandflies and rainfall and moisture. Indeed, it is necessary to strengthen the means to fight this disease during periods of activity and to use medium-term climatological forecasts to develop an alert system for leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An entomological survey was carried out in the locality of Aichoune to conduct a study on sand flies, species composition, and monthly relative abundance. This study is essential for the implementation of integrated vector management control. Insects collection was carried out twice a month from January 2013 to December 2014 by means of adhesive and CDC-type light traps. A total of 5441 sand flies were collected with the predominance of males (a sex ratio = 1.89). The sampled specimens consist of seven species divided into two genera: Phlebotomus (99.55%) and Sergentomyia (0.44%). Phlebotomus sergenti was the dominant species with an average annual proportion of 47.38%, followed by P. perniciosus (37.32%), P. longicuspis (8,56%), P. papatasi (6.23%), and P. ariasi (0.05%). The genus Sergentomyia was less common (0.44%). S.minuta was represented only by 0.36% and S. fallax by 0.07%. The species dynamics showed a unimodal evolution for P. sergenti and P. papatasi. They were active from May to October. P. perniciosus presents a trimodal trend showing the most relevant peak in August. The highest number of specimens was collected in June, when the temperature reaches an annual average value of 25.5°C. The obtained results will help us better understand the leishmaniasis transmission dynamics in the Aichoune locality and will contribute to the design of a surveillance strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infections transmitted by sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) pose always a real health problem due to the increasing number of cases detected each year and the annual emergence of new leishmaniasis outbreaks. This study evaluated the temporal evolution of six species of sand flies in five stations inventoried between May 2017 and April 2018, in order to determine for the first time the extent of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission in the city of Fez. The monthly impact of Fez sand fly density has been studied using all multivariate statistical analyses, including multiple factor correspondence analysis (MCA), which were performed using XLSTAT and the version of SPSS 20.0 test. Differences between concentrations were considered significant if P < 0.05. To better study the results obtained, different ecological indices have been studied. This study showed that these vectors developed in different sectors of the city of Fez. A total of 816 sand flies were collected from five stations in the city, belonging to three species of the genus Phlebotomus (46.82%) and three species of the genus Sergentomyia (53.18%). The seasonal fluctuation of the average density followed a bimodal evolution for the three stations Dhar Richa, Ain Nokbi, and Boujloud. The stations of Ain Nokbi (0.87 ph/m2) and Dhar Richa (0.467 ph/m2) exposed the sites to a high average density with a maximum peak during August (1.965 ph/m2) and July (1.87 Ph/m2), respectively. S. minuta (44.24%), Ph. sergenti (26.96%), Ph. perniciosus (10.78%), and Ph. papatasi (9.07%) were the most qualified species. The calculated P value is above the 5% significance level, so the relative abundance of these species between study sites shows no significant difference. The period of phlebotomy activity of the genus Phlebotomus in Fez lasts seven months from May to November with a bimodal or trimodal evolution and varies according to the species or the surveyed station. The seasonal fluctuation of sand flies could be conditioned by climatic factors where the period of activity of the species coincides with the hot months (May, June, July, and August). We have observed that the temperature factor favors the prevalence of sand flies, while the difference in the relative abundance of species between the sites is related to the difference in the bioecological conditions of each site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco has a rich plant biodiversity and an ancient ethnobotanical knowledge influenced by the ethnic diversity of the Moroccan population. This heritage has been preserved from generation to generation by traditional herbalists. In this study, data were collected via a survey of herbalists based on the direct interview technique. Questions addressed the herbalists' age and education level as well as the vernacular names and parts of the plants used for the preservation of food. The species use value was used to identify the most important species recommended by herbalists. The average age of the participants was 52.55 years, and the illiteracy rate was 46%. A total of 32 plant species representing 16 families were identified as being used in the preservation of various food products. The most important family was Lamiaceae, followed by Apiaceae and Rosaceae. The most frequently used parts of the plant were the leaves (26.37%), followed by the fruit (24.7%), and the whole plant (12.7%). The highest use values were recorded for Citrus limon (0.16), Thymus vulgaris (0.14), Rosmarinus officinalis (0.12), Artemisia herba alba (0.11) and Lavandula dentata (0.1). Meat, vegetables and fish were the most commonly preserved food products. This ethnobotanical survey on the preservation of food products is the first of its kind conducted in Morocco and has implications for meeting consumer demands and understanding the potential uses of plants in the preservation of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the better production and sustainable management of natural resources, a chemometric investigation was conducted to examine the effect of cooperative and harvesting periods on the crop yields and chemical compositions of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn essential oils in the Oriental region of Morocco. The samples were collected from three cooperatives over nine time periods from January 2018 to April 2019. The chemical composition of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The data from this study were processed by multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The disc diffusion technique and a determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration were performed to study the antibacterial properties of the oils. Statistical analysis showed that the cooperative and harvest period have a significant effect on yields. The highest yield of essential oil was recorded in April 2019 at cooperative C1. The PCA and the HCA results were divided into two groups: Group A for the summer season and group B for the winter season. The samples collected during summer were characterized by a high amount of 1,8-cineole component and a high yield of essential oil, whereas the samples collected during winter were qualified by a high amount of α-pinene component and a low yield of essential oil. The antibacterial activity of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn essential oils showed that Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC23857 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 23857 are the most susceptible strains, stopping growth at 1/500 (v/v). The least susceptible strain is Escherichia coli ATCC25922, with an MIC value corresponding to 1/250 (v/v). The findings of this study could have a positive economic impact on the exploitation of rosemary in the Oriental region, especially during the best harvest periods, as they indicate how to obtain the best yields of oils richest in 1,8-cineole and α-pinene chemotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify factors that affect saffron quality in order to enhance the quality and production of saffron. Saffron samples were collected from 38 harvest sites at various altitudes (high, medium, and low) in Taliouine and Taznakht. Analysis of the content of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin was carried out through spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet‐visible (UV–vis) according to the ISO 3632‐1:2011 standard. Saffron from high‐altitude sites was found to have the highest average content of picrocrocin (90.92 ± 5.98), safranal (28.57 ± 2.52), and crocin (208.37 ± 21.27), followed by that from medium‐altitude sites (87.59 ± 8.22, 27.09 ± 3.69, and 200.05 ± 19.86, respectively). Analysis of variance test showed that the quality of the saffron was influenced by the altitude and not by the species provenance. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that saffron containing the highest quantity of crocin was found to have the greatest coloring strength and consequently belonged to the first grade. Partial least squares (PLS) regression allowed finding a suitable preliminary model to predict the coloring strength from the absorbances. Overall, these findings can be used to improve the quality and quantity of saffron by developing the conditions of saffron cultivation, especially at high altitude. Novelty impact statement: The investigation of Moroccan saffron showed that his quality is affected by the altitude and not by the provenance, and that the high altitude containing the first grade of saffron. The moisture content showed an effect on saffron quality. PCA identified a strong correlation between crocin, coloring strength, and saffron grade. Thus, the saffron with the highest amount of crocin had the highest coloring strength and therefore belonged to the first grade. PLS regression was successfully created as a preliminary model to predict coloring strength based on their absorbance data in these study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Culex pipiens mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) is highly suspected to be the vector responsible for the spread of several parasitic and viral diseases. The use of synthetic insecticides is generally the preferred method of controlling these mosquitoes' proliferation. However, it has led to resistance problems in target mosquitoes and environmental damage. Hence, diverse plant extracts could be considered as an alternative and potential source as mosquito control agents. In this study, essential oils of Lavandula angustifolia subsp. angustifolia and Lavandula dentata spp. dentata that are growing in Morocco were examined for their insecticidal effects on Culex pipiens larvae. The bioassay was performed according to a methodology inspired by the standard protocol of the World Health Organization. The mortality rate was determined after 24 hours of exposure, and probit regression analysis was used to calculate LC50 and LC90. The chemical analysis revealed that the principal compounds of L. angustifolia subsp. essential oils include linalool, linalyl acetate, geraniol, lavandulyl acetate, camphor, β-caryophyllene, terpinen-4-ol, β-myrcene, and 1,8-cineole, while the essential oil of L. dentata spp. was mainly composed of 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, trans-pinocarveol, linalool, and borneol. These volatile compounds have shown a toxic effect against Culex pipiens larvae, with lethal concentrations LC50 and LC90 being, respectively, 140 µg/ml and 450 µg/ml, for the L. angustifolia subsp. essential oil. Meanwhile, they were estimated at 2670 µg/ml and 7400 µg/ml, respectively, for the L. dentata spp. essential oil. These results suggest using essential oils of two species of Lavandula to control the Culex pipiens mosquito. It could be useful for the study of new natural larvicidal compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in particular continues to be a subject of research and analysis. Changes in climatic parameters contribute to the creation of ecological conditions favorable to the multiplication of the vectors of certain diseases. With this in mind, this study presents an entomological survey conducted in Meknes prefecture and the study of the link between the abundance of sandflies, an indicator of the risk of leishmaniasis in a given area, and the climatic factors. Monthly trapping of this fauna was carried out during a year from March 2016 until April 2017 using adhesive traps. Climatic data from the region were used to determine the effect of climate on the distribution of sandflies. A total of 941 leishmaniasis vector specimens were captured. The dominant species is Ph. sergenti (73.32), followed by Ph. longicuspis (8.25%), then Ph. perniciosus (7.94%) and Ph. papatasi (6.31%). The sex ratio study showed that males are more abundant than females for all species. The seasonal fluctuation is bimodal with two peaks, the first in July and the second in September. The results show a positive correlation between temperature and abundance of sandflies (r = 0.99) and a negative correlation with humidity and precipitation with a correlation coefficient of r = −0.87 and r = −0.72. Indeed, the medium-term climatological forecasts are essential tools to develop a warning system for leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The microbiological risk of the hospital environment, including inert surfaces, medical devices, and equipment, represents a real problem. Objective. This study is aimed at demonstrating and assessing the antibacterial activity of three synthetic disinfectants classified as quaternary ammoniums on different bacterial strains (Gram-negative and Gram-positive like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus) isolated from the hospital environment. The reference strains included Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 used as negative control strains. Method. Three quaternary ammonium disinfectants were tested: DDN9® (0.5%) which contains didecylmethylpolyoxyethylammonium propionate as an active substance, spray (0.4%) containing quaternary ammonium compounds, and Phagosurf ND® (0.4%) with didecyldimethylammonium chloride. Their effect was evaluated using the disk diffusion technique and the broth dilution methods, allowing the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and then the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Result. Only the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and some strains of Gram-negative bacteria were inhibited by the three synthetic disinfectants. NDD9® demonstrated an antibacterial effect only against the Gram-positive strains (S. aureus and S. aureus ATCC 29213) with a MIC of 0.25 mg/ml. The disinfectant spray showed effect against all four strains including E. coli (9), S. aureus, E. coli ATCC 25922, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 with an inhibitory concentration of 4 mg/ml, while the growth of S. aureus ATCC 29213 was inhibited at 2 mg/ml. The third disinfectant, Phagosurf ND®, inhibited only the growth of S. aureus ATCC 29213 at a MIC of 4 mg/ml. Conclusion. This study is the first here in Morocco to evaluate the bacterial activity of products intended for the control of the healthcare environment. The results obtained on the three disinfectants tested reveal an ineffectiveness against some isolated strains from the hospital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases with health risks. They cause a big health problem. These parasitic diseases are transmitted by the parasite of the genus Leishmania through sandflies. Objective. The aim of this work is to study the distribution of the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases and the impact of urbanization and socioeconomic factors and their effects as leishmaniasis risk factors. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study of CL cases collected at the level of Sefrou Province during the period from 2007 to 2011. The data was collected from registers of the Medical Delegation of Sefrou Province. The socioeconomic data, namely, the poverty rate, the popular density, and the type of environment (urban/rural) of Sefrou Province, were obtained from the High Commission for Planning. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software (version 20). The data were registered in a Microsoft Excel 2010 file. Statistical analysis was based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and then a correlation study was carried out (Pearson correlation). The results were considered significant when p was less than 0.05. The database was analyzed by QGIS 2.18, which is open source software. Results. A total of 349 cases of CL were collected at Sefrou Province from 2007 to 2011. A percentage of 49% of the cases come from urban areas, while 51% of the cases come from rural areas. In the statistical analysis, the division of the incidence of CL cases was found to be significantly associated only with urbanization. For the other factors, the number of people or the poverty rate is not taken into account in the incidence dynamics. Conclusion. This study may be useful for the implementation of future adequate measures and controls. Getting rid of leishmaniasis requires a comprehensive approach by acting on the sources of contamination through good continuous surveillance, appropriate management, effective vector control, and awareness-raising strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis diseases are endemic in Morocco. An entomological survey was conducted in Aichoun locality for 1 year from September 2013 to August 2014. The objective of this study was to investigate the sand fly fauna, mainly the species composition and the monthly species prevalence in accordance with bioclimate factors. Sand flies were collected twice a month, using sticky traps and CDC light traps. During a one-year study, 4472 specimens of sand fly were caught (72.56% male/22.44% female) that were composed of seven species divided into two genera: Phlebotomus (99.46%) and Sergentomyia (0.53%). Ph. sergenti was the most prevalent species (46.64%), followed by Ph. perniciosus (38.19%), Ph. longicuspis (9.32%), Ph. papatasi (5.23%), and Ph. ariasi (0.06%). The genus Sergentomyia was even less frequent. The population dynamics showed a bimodal trend with two peaks: the first one in October (12.03% of specimens) and the second in June (27.92% of specimens). The study of the effects of climatic factors in the study area showed a link between the dynamics of sand flies and the variation of these parameters (temperature and relative humidity). During the period between November and March, the sand flies were absent. The highest prevalence of sand flies was recorded in June when the temperature and relative humidity values reached, respectively, 25.8°C and 42%. The minimum number of specimens was collected in September with an average temperature of 23.19°C and relative humidity of 57.4%. Statistical analysis with principal component analysis has shown a strong positive correlation between temperature parameters and the seasonal distribution of sand flies. The climatic factor of relative humidity has been judged of being negatively correlated. The wind speed does not have any impact on the relative abundance of all species. Within this context, the results will be useful for the development of a monitoring program to better manage the operations and evaluate their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Equipment and hospital surfaces constitute a microbial reservoir that can contaminate hospital users and thus create an infectious risk. The aim of this work, which was carried out for the first time at a hospital in Meknes (regional hospital in the center of Morocco), is to evaluate the microbiological quality of surfaces and equipment in three potential risk areas (burn unit, operating room, and sterilization service). Methods. This study was carried out over a period of 4 months (February–May 2017). A total of 60 samples were taken by swabbing according to the standard (ISO/DIS 14698-1 (2004)) in an environment of dry area and equipment after biocleaning. Isolation and identification were performed according to conventional bacteriological methods and by microscopic observation for fungi. Results. The study showed that 40% of surface samples were contaminated after biocleaning. The burn unit recorded a percentage of 70% contamination (p value <0.001), 13% for the sterilization service, and 7% for the operating room. 89% of the isolates were identified as Gram-positive bacteria against 11% for fungi (p value <0.001). Bacterial identification showed coagulase-negative staphylococci (32%), Bacillus spp. (16%), Corynebacterium (8%), and oxidase-negative Gram-positive bacillus (40%) while fungal identification showed Aspergillus niger (n = 2) and Aspergillus nidulans (n = 1). Conclusion. To control the infectious risk related to equipment and hospital surfaces, it would be necessary to evaluate the disinfection protocol applied in these units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing cases of leishmaniasis disease have been reported during recent years in Sefrou Province, Central North of Morocco. This study presents the epidemiological profile of the provincial population, aims at analyzing the epidemiological profile, and in particular, spatiotemporal follow-up of all cases of leishmaniasis. It is a retrospective analysis of leishmaniasis cases recorded between 2007 and 2010. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 20). Over a four-year period, from 2007 to 2010, there were 62 cases of leishmaniasis, 93.12% of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and 6.87% of visceral leishmaniasis. The case number of leishmaniasis in the Province of Sefrou varies between 0.165% and 0.0018%. For each type of leishmaniasis, the female sex was the most affected compared to the male sex. This difference cannot be considered statistically significant (χ2 = 0.083, p value = 0.77). For cutaneous leishmaniasis, all age groups were affected with a large percentage: patients aged 0–9 years with 63.11% followed by the age group [10–19] with 24.18%. Visceral leishmaniasis mainly has affected the infant population [0–9] with 83.33%. We have not observed any association between the age classes and the leishmaniasis type (χ2 = 6.20, p value = 0.4). From a spatial point of view, the majority of cases of leishmaniasis was reported in El Menzel region (67 cases) followed by Sefrou (64 cases) and Tazouta (38 cases). There is a statistically significant relationship between the type of leishmaniasis and the studied regions (χ2 = 52; p value <0.001). The study of the epidemiological profile of leishmaniasis cases may be useful in enlightening health authorities to develop screening, treatment, and control strategies to reduce the incidence rate of the disease. Other research studies can be conducted to the dynamics of the vectors of sandflies and their ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Parasitic diseases, in particular leishmaniasis, are still a public health problem in several countries and in Morocco. Methods. The data used are those of epidemiological surveillance collected in the registers of the prefectural epidemiology cell (PEC); however, the socioeconomic data were obtained from the High Commissioner for Planning. The Pearson correlation test was used to determine the correlation between the different variables. Results. In total, 70 cases were recorded by the prefectural epidemiology cell (PEC) during the period from 2009 to 2015. 46% of the cases come from rural areas while 54% of the cases come from urban areas. The Pearson test shows the existence of a significant relationship between the number of cases recorded and the type of environment (r = 0.49, p value = 0.02), and population rate (R = 0.849 and p ≤ 0.001). However, in our case, the poverty rate does not influence CL's distribution. Conclusion. Our results show that the CL affects the majority of the municipalities with predominance of the urban environment, so the distribution of cases of this pathology is not influenced by the poverty; however, the urbanization and the number of inhabitants have a positive impact on the distribution of this scourge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an infectious disease caused by various species of Leishmania and transmitted by several species of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae). In order to evaluate the risk of leishmaniasis transmission in Fes-Boulemane, an investigation was carried out in two localities, Aichoun and Bouasseme, during 2011. From January to December, 1120 specimens were collected in Aichoun comprising six species belonging to two genera: Phlebotomus sergenti (76.07%), Phlebotomus longicuspis (9.01%), Phlebotomus perniciosus (8.48%), Phlebotomus papatasi (4.82%), Sergentomyia minuta, and Sergentomyia fallax. For Bouasseme, seven species were identified with Phlebotomus sergenti (60.39%) dominating, followed by Phlebotomus perniciosus (20%) and Phlebotomus longicuspis (12.15%). The remaining species, Phlebotomus papatasi, Phlebotomus ariasi, Sergentomyia minuta, and Sergentomyia fallax, were less prevalent. The activity of sand flies in both localities is marked by the dominance of Ph. sergenti with two peaks occurring in June and September. In order to obtain a better understanding of sand fly diversity among their species, results were analyzed by the ecological indices determinant: specific richness, the relative abundance, and Shannon-Weiner index (H′). Further studies of sand fly diversity should employ statistical tests and molecular analyses. This study can be useful in the implementation of appropriate future control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniases (CL) are endemic in Morocco. They are common in the human population in different localities such as Aichoun in Sefrou province, Morocco. This study was carried out in Aichoun locality from April to October 2012 in order to study the spatiotemporal trends of the main Leishmania phlebotomine vectors in this focus. Overall, 1171 sand flies, belonging to four species, were collected by sticky traps. Phlebotomus sergenti was the predominant species (78.4%) followed by Ph. perniciosus (10.5%), Ph. papatasi (7.94%), and Ph. longicuspis (3.16%). Sandflies were active during 6 months (May–October). Ph. sergenti, Ph. perniciosus, and Ph. papatasi displayed a bimodal distribution with a first peak in July and a second peak in September, while Ph. longicuspis showed a monophasic trend with a peak in August. The high abundance and the lengthy period of activity of Ph. sergenti and Ph. perniciosus, vectors of L. tropica and L. infantum, respectively, are a cause for concern as they indicate the high potential risk of Leishmania transmission in the studied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food chemical antioxidants have demonstrated protective effects against reactive oxygen species and free radicals, but present in excess, harmful consequences might occur on health. Therefore, replacing these synthetic additives with nontoxic natural antioxidants is crucial. Objective: The current study examined aroma profile, antioxidant activity, and multivariate analysis of Mentha piperita , Mentha pulegium , Thymus serpyllum , and Thymus zygis essential oils from Morocco. Methods: GC-MS analysis was carried out to determine the chemical composition of the four oils, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), cation radical (ABTS + ), hydrogen peroxide scavenging capacity (H 2 O 2 ), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) methods. Results: Isomintlactone (35.55%), pulegone (74.04%), borneol (37.87%), and borneol (30.99%) were the most abundant compounds of M. piperita, M. pulegium , T. serpyllum , and T. zygis EOs. The antioxidant activity of the four EOs was particularly notable, with an IC 50 varying between 3.51 ± 0.22 mg/mL and 0.49 ± 0.08 mg/mL by the DPPH method, 1.02 ± 0.21 mg/mL and 0.4 ± 0.7 mg/mL by the ABTS method, and 0.063 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.009 ± 0.008 mg/mL by the H 2 O 2 method. For the FRAP technique, the EC 50 was between 0.42 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 0.09 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Finally, the equivalent concentration of ascorbic acid ranged between 10.42 ± 0.03 mg AAs/mL for M. piperita and 7.25 ± 0.19 mg AAs/mL for T. serpyllum . As determined by multivariate analysis, antioxidant activities through the DPPH, ABTS, TAC, and FRAP were mainly influenced the major compounds of M. pulegium and M. piperita EOs. However, the H 2 O 2 method showed a stronger positive correlation with major compounds of T. zygis EO. Conclusion: The EOs derived from M. piperita , M. pulegium , T. serpyllum , and T. zygi s species might be exploited as a natural source for antioxidant activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mohamed Amine El Maimouni et al.)

The Asteraceae family is well known for its toxic and repellent activity against mosquitoes. In this study, essential oils (EOs) extracted from the aerial parts of both wild and cultivated Artemisia campestris L. plants were tested for larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae), a pest mosquito widely suspected to be the vector responsible for West Nile virus transmission. The research aims at comparing the chemical composition and insecticidal activity of cultivated and wild A. campestris EOs. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation from the plant's aerial parts and were analyzed using GC-MS. Furthermore, the larviciding experiment was carried out following the standard WHO protocol. The result showed that wild and cultivated plant EOs differed only quantitatively, while the qualitative profile revealed a nearly identical chemical composition. Camphor (18.98%), car-3-en-5-one (11.25%), thujone (6.36%), chrysanthenone (6.24%), filifolone (4.56%), and borneol (3.56%) dominate the wild plant EO. Camphor (21.01%), car-3-en-5-one (17%), chrysanthenone (10.15%), filifolone (7.90%), borneol (3.38%), and thujone (3.08%) are the major compounds of the cultivated plant. Cultivation did not affect the EO production since the yield of the cultivated plant was 0.5 ± 0.1% and 0.6 ± 0.2% for the wild plant. The cultivated A. campestris EO had the highest insecticidal activity (LC 50  = 9.79  µ g/ml), and no significant difference was noticed between wild and cultivated A. campestris EO in terms of LC 90 . These findings could pave the way for a new method of producing biocides to control major disease vectors and offer a potential alternative for pest control., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Abdellatif Alami et al.)

Background: Two days before the start of the 2021 school year, more than 2 million Moroccan students (12-17 years old) had received the first dose of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine and 416 810 students had received both doses. Vaccination of young children against COVID-19 would contribute to pandemic control and "herd immunity"., Aims: This study aimed to assess the extent to which Moroccan parents were likely to vaccinate their under-12 children against COVID-19., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the form of an anonymous and confidential electronic survey among parents visiting pediatric clinics in Meknes Prefecture in August and September 2021., Results: Our study shows that the majority of parents were vaccinated (67.2%), but refused to vaccinate their under-12 children (83.6%). But 72% of all parents were willing to vaccinate their children if COVID-19 mortality increased among children., Conclusion: Most parents who refused to have their children vaccinated were illiterate or had only primary education. There is therefore a need to increase awareness and information campaigns on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine among adults and children., (Copyright © Authors 2022; Licensee: World Health Organization. EMHJ is an open access journal. This paper is available under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo).)

An entomological survey was carried out in the locality of Aichoune to conduct a study on sand flies, species composition, and monthly relative abundance. This study is essential for the implementation of integrated vector management control. Insects collection was carried out twice a month from January 2013 to December 2014 by means of adhesive and CDC-type light traps. A total of 5441 sand flies were collected with the predominance of males (a sex ratio = 1.89). The sampled specimens consist of seven species divided into two genera: Phlebotomus (99.55%) and Sergentomyia (0.44%). Phlebotomus sergenti was the dominant species with an average annual proportion of 47.38%, followed by P. perniciosus (37.32%), P. longicuspis (8,56%), P. papatasi (6.23%), and P. ariasi (0.05%). The genus Sergentomyia was less common (0.44%). S.minuta was represented only by 0.36% and S. fallax by 0.07%. The species dynamics showed a unimodal evolution for P. sergenti and P. papatasi . They were active from May to October. P. perniciosus presents a trimodal trend showing the most relevant peak in August. The highest number of specimens was collected in June, when the temperature reaches an annual average value of 25.5°C. The obtained results will help us better understand the leishmaniasis transmission dynamics in the Aichoune locality and will contribute to the design of a surveillance strategy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Fatima Zahra Talbi et al.)

The infections transmitted by sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) pose always a real health problem due to the increasing number of cases detected each year and the annual emergence of new leishmaniasis outbreaks. This study evaluated the temporal evolution of six species of sand flies in five stations inventoried between May 2017 and April 2018, in order to determine for the first time the extent of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission in the city of Fez. The monthly impact of Fez sand fly density has been studied using all multivariate statistical analyses, including multiple factor correspondence analysis (MCA), which were performed using XLSTAT and the version of SPSS 20.0 test. Differences between concentrations were considered significant if P < 0.05. To better study the results obtained, different ecological indices have been studied. This study showed that these vectors developed in different sectors of the city of Fez. A total of 816 sand flies were collected from five stations in the city, belonging to three species of the genus Phlebotomus (46.82%) and three species of the genus Sergentomyia (53.18%). The seasonal fluctuation of the average density followed a bimodal evolution for the three stations Dhar Richa, Ain Nokbi, and Boujloud. The stations of Ain Nokbi (0.87 ph/m 2 ) and Dhar Richa (0.467 ph/m 2 ) exposed the sites to a high average density with a maximum peak during August (1.965 ph/m 2 ) and July (1.87 Ph/m 2 ), respectively. S. minuta (44.24%), Ph. sergenti (26.96%), Ph. perniciosus (10.78%), and Ph. papatasi (9.07%) were the most qualified species. The calculated P value is above the 5% significance level, so the relative abundance of these species between study sites shows no significant difference. The period of phlebotomy activity of the genus Phlebotomus in Fez lasts seven months from May to November with a bimodal or trimodal evolution and varies according to the species or the surveyed station. The seasonal fluctuation of sand flies could be conditioned by climatic factors where the period of activity of the species coincides with the hot months (May, June, July, and August). We have observed that the temperature factor favors the prevalence of sand flies, while the difference in the relative abundance of species between the sites is related to the difference in the bioecological conditions of each site., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Najoua Darkaoui et al.)

In Morocco, Culex pipiens plays a role in the high annoyance experienced by most urban cities, suburban and rural areas, especially since it was strongly suspected as the most likely vector in the transmission of West Nile virus epidemics that have hit Morocco in 1996. Chemical insecticides are generally the way in which they use the programs against harmful mosquitoes and disease vectors. However, the repeated and excessive use of these products regularly led to the emergence of the phenomenon of insect resistance. At the center of Morocco, information on the susceptibility or resistance to insecticides in mosquitoes (larvae and adults) vectors of diseases or pests, are almost nonexistent. This article reports the results of studies conducted between 2007 and 2010 with sensitivity tests WHO on larvae local populations of Culex pipiens collected in three lodging in the city of Fez, towards the insecticide mostly used by hygienic services: temephos. Five concentrations of insecticide (0.0025 mg/l, 0.005 mg/l, 0.0125 mg/l, 0.025 mg/l, 0.0625 mg/l) in addition to control, were used to determine the LC50 and LC 90 of Culex pipiens species towards temephos. Sensitivity tests were carried out at the entomology unit and monitoring of insect sensitivity towards insecticides installed at the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory Epidemiological and Environmental Hygiene (LRDEHM), Fez, under the Regional Directorate of Health in Fes Boulemane Region. The LC50 and LC90, concentrations corresponding to 50 and 90% mortality were determined graphically, by the linear relationship between the decimal logarithm of insecticide concentrations (x-axis) and the percentage of mortality transformed into probit values (ordinate) on logarithmic gausso paper. Resistance rates were determined on the basis of the sensitivity of a reference strain (S-Lab). The bioassay results affirmed the presence of resistance in larvae Culex pipiens towards temephos and that this species has also equally developed resistance levels similar and comparable in the three lodging studied, resistance rates recorded varying between 12.17 and 14.34. Facing such a situation, the surveillance of susceptibility of mosquitoes to insecticides used in mosquito control and anti-malarial fight has become imperative. This would undoubtedly allow a good management of the products available and consequently to adopt suitable measures for the best management of this resistance which must be an integral part of any program of vector control.

Staphylococcus aureus, which has its ecological niche in the anterior nares, has been shown to cause a variety of infectious diseases mainly for patients in hemodialysis units. We performed this study to evaluate the prevalence of nasal S. aureus carriage among hemodialysis outpatients, to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates, to characterize the virulence genes, and to identify associated risk factors. Nares swab specimens were obtained from 70 outpatients on hemodialysis between March and June 2010. Samples were plated immediately onto S. aureus specific media and pattern of antibacterial sensitivity was determined using disk diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect nuc, mecA, and genes encoding staphylococcal toxins. Medical record of patients was explored to determine S.aureus carriage risk factors. Nasal screening identified 42.9% S. aureus carriers with only one (3.3%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolate. Among the methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates, high rate of penicillin resistance (81.8%) has been detected. The identified risk factors were male gender and age ≤ 30 years. Research of virulence factors showed a high genetic diversity among the 30 S. aureus isolates. Twenty-one (70%) of them had at least one virulence gene, of which 3.3% were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (lukS/F-PV) genes. S. aureus carriage must be screened for at regular intervals in hemodialysis patients. Setting up a bacterial surveillance system is one of the strategies to understand the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, to guide local antibiotic policy and prevent spread of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus., (© 2012 The Authors. Hemodialysis International © 2012 International Society for Hemodialysis.)

After the elimination of autochthonous malaria in Morocco in 2004, control of imported malaria, based on epidemiological monitoring of the parasite and vector control, has become a priority. This retrospective study concerns imported malaria cases identified by optical microscopy at the regional epidemiological diagnostic laboratory of the Regional Health Department of Fes from 1997 through 2007. The results obtained showed that 56 of 68 (82%) samples examined were positive. Women accounted for 21% of cases, and all patients were older than 15 years. The positive cases were imported from 13 African countries, in particular, Côte d'Ivoire (14%) and Congo and Burkina Faso (11%). Incidence was highest in 2002 with 11 cases, 1998 with 9 cases, and 2004 and 2005, with 8 each year. Only one death was recorded, in 2002. The species found were Plasmodium falciparum, in 50 cases (89%), Plasmodium vivax in 4 (7%) and Plasmodium ovale in 2 (4%). The city of Fes, capital of the Fes-Boulemane region in northern central Morocco, as a capital, university town, and important spiritual centre, attracts many visitors from countries of sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is endemic. It is thus essential to maintain a high level of malaria monitoring and control in this area. The results of this study will undoubtedly help to guide the programme for imported malaria control and monitoring in our area, as well as the national programme against this disease.