title: Epidemiological characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in Morocco (1990-2014): an update.
abstract: Leishmaniases are parasitic diseases frequent in the Mediterranean Basin. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a notifiable parasitic disease that increased in incidence in Morocco over the past few years and has recently emerged in several new foci, causing a public health problem in Morocco. The aim of this study is to describe the spatio-temporal distribution of VL in Morocco between 1990 and 2014 period in order to highlight important features and trends of VL and its epidemiology and to assess whether the activity of the unit reflects the situation of the disease at the national level and whether it could constitute an indicator of public health relevance. Two thousand four hundred and twenty one cases were reported in Morocco between 1990 and 2014 with an average annual reported incidence rate of 0.4 cases per 100.000 inhabitants. Before 1996 the average annual incidence of VL was 50 cases on average. After this date the number of cases increased and then remained stable with around 100-150 cases per year. Children whose age varies between 1 and 4 years old are the most affected with 1327 (74%) of total cases; nevertheless the adult starts to be affected by the disease. In 2000, 65% of positive cases of VL are concentrated at both northern regions: Taza-Al Hoceima- Taounate with 45% of cases, Tanger- Tetouan mainly represented by Chefchaoun with 20% of cases. The Fez-Boulemane region located in the center recorded 12% of cases. Throughout the years the map VL distribution has been progressively changed and spatial spread of the disease to the center is noted in 2007. 2014 has been marked by an even greater extension of the disease to the center and south of Morocco. Nationally in 2014, 34 of 75 provinces and prefectures are affected compared to 2000, when 22 out of 82 provinces and prefectures were affected. Leishmania infantum was identified the causative agent based on species- specific PCR-Lei70 assay. VL remains a sporadically endemic parasitic disease in Morocco with a progressive extension of its range of distribution. Such a situation would relate to the geographical succession of Phlebotomine sand fly vectors, the difficulty of actions against the canine population reservoirs of L. infantum and unfavorable socio-economic factors.
authors: National Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Parasitology Department, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Zoology and General Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Agdal, Morocco. Electronic address: mniouilmeryem@gmail.com.
authors: Meryem
authors: M
authors: Mniouil
authors: National Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Parasitology Department, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Zoology and General Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Agdal, Morocco.
authors: Hajiba
authors: H
authors: Fellah
authors: Laboratory of parasitology and mycology, Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Amarir
authors: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Abdeslamd
authors: A
authors: Et-Touys
authors: Moroccan Ministry of Health, Epidemiological Direction of Fight Against Diseases, Parasitic Diseases Service, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Khadija
authors: K
authors: Bekhti
authors: National Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Parasitology Department, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: El Bachir
authors: EB
authors: Adlaoui
authors: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Youssef
authors: Y
authors: Bakri
authors: Morocco Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Sciences and Techniques Faculty, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco.
authors: Haddou
authors: H
authors: Nhammi
authors: Laboratory of Zoology and General Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Agdal, Morocco.
authors: Abderrahim
authors: A
authors: Sadak
authors: National Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Parasitology Department, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: sebti.faiza@yahoo.fr.
authors: Faiza
authors: F
authors: Sebti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004285:Dogs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D011634:Public Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; L. infantum; Morocco; PCR- Lei70; Phlebotomine sand flies; Visceral leishmaniasis