[88 years of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Morocco]

Leishmaniasis in its cutaneous form is a public health problem in Morocco. The objectives of this study were to assess the development of its epidemiological profile, identify the relevant species, and determine the location of the identified cases and their distribution by year, by sex, and by age. This retrospective epidemiological study covers a period of 88 years and concerns all reported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Morocco from the first description in 1922 until 2010. During this period, 56,194 cases have been reported; they account for 95.7% of all cases of leishmaniasis (n = 58,710). The endemicity of CL has changed over time. The increase in its incidence is likely to be explained both by improved reporting and by a real increase in the number of cases.