Epidemiological and evaluative study of the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

   Epidemiological and evaluative study of the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Najaf Governorate, Iraq. This study included cutaneous leishmaniasis in Najaf Governorate, Iraq. Approximately 275 samples were collected from patients suspected of having cutaneous leishmaniasis; 157 of these tested positive, confirming the disease. These included 103 males and 54 females, ranging in age from 3 to 48 years. From the period of March 2023 to May 2025.

It was found that males represented a significantly higher rate of total infections (65.6%) compared to females (34.4%). The most affected age group was 5 to 10 years, followed by individuals aged 5 to 15 years, who also had a high rate of infections.

Residence area played a significant role in the prevalence of infection, with rural areas accounting for 71.34% of cases, while urban areas accounted for 28.66%. While the distribution of incidence by month of the year was 11.5%, February (14%), March (12.1%), and November (12.7%), accounting for more than half of the cases (approximately 50.3% of the total), these results indicate that warmer and/or wetter months are more likely to see instances than winter and spring.

On the one hand, wet lesions are the most common type of cutaneous leishmaniasis among the examined cases, representing 79.62% of the total lesions, compared to dry lesions, which accounted for 20.38%. While the distribution of lesions by body location, the face was the most affected area by cutaneous leishmaniasis in this study, representing 38.22% of the total lesions, compared to the lower extremities, upper extremities, and trunk.

   From a pharmacological perspective, in addition to paromomycin, liposomal amphotericin B is highly effective and achieves very high cure rates to date. It is particularly effective in cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis that are resistant to many other treatments, such as complex leishmaniasis. Lipid amphotericin B is also well tolerated by patients and has less nephrotoxicity.

   This article highlights the vital and growing role of paromomycin in combating leishmaniasis globally, emphasizing the need for continued scientific research to develop improved formulations and explore combination therapies that aim to overcome the challenges of resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes.