New epidemio-clinical insights into cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum in Casablanca, Morocco

Abstract

Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) represents a global public health challenge. In Morocco, the disease raises several concerns, such as geographical expansion, clinical heterogeneity, and the emergence of new Leishmania species. Our objective was to describe a new epidemiological and clinical profile caused by Leishmania infantum in patients diagnosed in Casablanca, Morocco.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study from 2012 to 2023. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected from patients meeting the inclusion criteria using a standardized clinical and epidemiological data collection tool. Parasitological and molecular analyses were performed on samples obtained from each patient. Only patients with confirmed positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping results were included in the study.

Results

PCR identified L. infantum as the causative agent of CL in 20 patients, who were predominantly female and from various rural regions across Morocco. All patients resided in areas characterized by inadequate sanitation and the presence of stray dogs. Clinical presentations were diverse, with the papulonodular form being the most frequently observed. Parasitological examinations yielded positive results in 70% of cases.

Conclusions

This study underscores the emergence of CL due to L. infantum as a growing public health concern in Morocco. It highlights the urgent need for enhanced awareness, targeted surveillance, preventive measures to mitigate the spread of the disease, and therapeutic strategies that consider its visceralizing potential.