title: Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ouazzane and Sidi Kacem provinces, Morocco (1997-2012).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 av. Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400, Rabat, Morocco. hichamelmiri@gmail.com.|Biology of Populations Laboratory, Faculty of sciences, Mohammed V Agdal University, Rabat, Morocco. hichamelmiri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Miri
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 av. Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faraj
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Scientific Institute, Mohammed V Agdal University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Himmi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hmamouch
authors.affiliation: Regional Observatory of the Health Fes-Boulemane, Hospital Al Ghassani, Fes, Morocco.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maniar
authors.affiliation: Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Health, Sidi Kacem, Morocco.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laaroussi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 av. Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhajaoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 av. Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sebti
authors.affiliation: Biology of Populations Laboratory, Faculty of sciences, Mohammed V Agdal University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benhoussa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000235:genetics; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania tropica; Maghreb; Morocco; Northern Africa; Ouazzane; Sidi Kacem; molecular identification