[Human cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Africa]

The authors present a synthesis of all available data concerning cutaneous leishmaniasis in West Africa. After describing the natural biotope of the disease, they recall the first reported cases, then the systematic surveys and leishmanin skin tests which allowed a better knowledge of the disease in some West African countries. The census of the most important foci shows a typical belt distribution related to the bioclimatic conditions. Lastly, the authors report an epidemiological investigation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Keur-Moussa focus near Thies (Senegal), which allowed to describe the natural cycle of the disease and present an hypothesis on the focus dynamics. The possibility of extrapolating data obtained in Senegal to other West African countries is discussed.