An epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniosis in human and dogs

Cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) is a vector-borne parasitic disease with widespread on the communities throughout the Mediterranean regions and the Middle East, including Iraq. The study aimed for detection and diagnosis of CL in humans and dogs. This is an epidemiological study included six districts in Misan province, during the period from December 2019 to November 2020. All samples were taken from patients and owned-dogs. A total of 436 patients suspected with CL enrolled. A total of 237 owned-dogs were examined. The mean age of patients was (18.15Å}16.92) years. The rate of CL infection was high in Al-Amarah district. About 409 (93.807%) patients were diagnosed as a new case of CL, with no significant difference (P>0.05). The duration from bites by sandflies to the time of being diagnosed with CL ranged from 1 to 18 weeks. Patients owned-dogs (direct contact) were 167 (38.302%), and those with indirect contact were 123 (28.211%). Dogs manifested with clinical features of CL were 74 (27.715%), while those were asymptomatic (193, 72.284%). The lesions in dogs were severe (47, 63.513%), moderate (22, 29.729%), and mild (5, 6.756%). In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this epidemiological study of CL was conducted for the first time in Iraq.