Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ouazzane and Sidi Kacem provinces, Morocco (1997 2012)
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem in Morocco. Three distinct parasites are involved; Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiological and the clinical features of endemic foci of CL in Sidi Kacem and Ouazzane provinces in the north of Morocco including molecular identification of parasites. We studied the evolution and the distribution of 1,656 CL cases coming from 39 sectors in these provinces between 1997 and 2012. The causative agents of CL in these areas were identified by using the ITS1 PCR RFLP method. A tendency of seasonality in incidence was observed, showing a peak in April. Most infected patients were from Ouazzane province. The patients' ages ranged from 6 months to 85 years; 54% of them were females. The highest rate lesions were found in the age group of 9 years or less and most lesions were localized in the face (79.6% The movement of populations from neighboring endemic areas and establishment of habitation in areas where housing conditions are unfavorable favored the emergence of the disease.ResumeLa leishmaniose cutanee (LC) est un probleme majeur de sante publique au Maroc. Trois parasites distincts sont impliques: Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major et Leishmania infantum. L'objectif de cette etude est d'etudier l'epidemiologie et les caracteristiques cliniques des foyers endemiques de LC dans les provinces Sidi Kacem et Ouazzane au nord duMaroc, y compris l'identification moleculaire des parasites.Nous avons etudie l'evolution et la repartition de 1656 cas de LC provenant de 39 secteurs dans ces provinces entre 1997 et 2012. Les parasites responsables de la LC dans ces regions ont ete identifies en utilisant la methode ITS1 PCR RFLP. Une tendance a la saisonnalite de l'incidence a ete observee, montrant un pic en avril. La plupart des patients infectes etaient de la province d'Ouazzane. L'age des patients variait de 6 mois a 85 ans; 54 d'entre eux etaient des femmes. Les taux les plus eleves des lesions ont ete trouves dans le groupe d'age de 0 a 9 ans et la plupart des lesions etaient localisees sur le visage (79,6 Le mouvement des populations des regions endemiques voisines et l'installation des habitations dans les zones ou les conditions de logement sont defavorables ont favorise l'emergence de la maladie.
Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique