Epidemiology Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in AL-Muthana Province (2016-2022)

Jannat Rajeh Tayeh1, Abbas Ali Manshd2, , Russul Nazem Sulaib3 , Zahraah Ammar Neama4 ,
Dalal Atheer Salih5
1.2.3.4.5 College of Health and Medical Technology, Department of Medical Laboratories, Sawa
University. Iraq.

Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis has been a long-standing public health concern in Iraq. The study on
leishmaniasis epidemiology in Iraq indicates that the disease has been endemic in various regions for
many years. Leishmaniasis is an ancient disease in Iraq known by different local names, including
“oriental sore”, “Aleppo button”, “Jericho boil”, Delhi boil,“ sister” and “Baghdad boil”, which used to
be common until a few decades ago. This study aimed to identify the spread of cutaneous leishmaniasis
in Muthanna province, Iraq, by analyzing patient data based on gender, age, and location. Data
collection took place from December 3, 2023, to March 10, 2024, and was conducted by the AL
Muthanna Health Department and the Statistics and Control Unit, involving all registered cases in the
governorate’s districts. The data was organized in statistical tables, categorized by years from 2016 to
2023, and analyzed using the (SPPS version 23) program, The chi-square test was used to identify
significant differences in total cases, age groups, number of infections among patients, region, gender,
and age at a probability level of P<0.05 .
The study based on statistical analysis of diagnosed cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, the results
revealed that males were more prevalent, accounting for 59% of the cases, while females accounted for
41%,the analysis showed that males were slightly more frequently affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis
compared to females with a significant difference of (p≤0.05) during the years 2016-2023. The age
distribution of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis CL showed that the highest frequency was
observed among individuals aged 5-14 years (41%).

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