Epidemiological and Evaluative Study of the Prevalence of  Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Bent Alhuda Hussein  Neamah; Feryal Ameen  Merza; Huda Mahdi  Saeed

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v21i1.21635

Bent Alhuda Hussein Neamah Jabir Ibn Hayyan University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Najaf, Iraq
Feryal Ameen Merza Faculty of Science, Kufa University, 54001 Al-kufa, Najaf, Iraq
Huda Mahdi Saeed Jabir Ibn Hayyan University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Najaf, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v21i1.21635

Keywords: Prevalence; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Iraq

Abstract

Background: The developing world encounter rising Leishmaniasis. Therefore, it remains a substantial public health burden in Iraq. A revised dataset on its prevalence and distribution are essential. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiological status of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Najaf Governorate and evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of included drugs.

Methods: The investigation was conducted in several hospitals in Najaf City, Iraq from March 2023 to May 2025. Samples were collected from 275 suspected patients. Of these, 157 were confirmed to be infected with the disease (103 males and 54 females). Their ages ranged from 3 to 48 years.

Results: Males constituted most of the total infections, accounting for 65.6% of cases, whereas females represented only 34.4%. Regarding distribution, Rural areas recorded the highest proportion of cases (71.34%), while urban areas comprised the remaining percentage (28.66%). Regarding monthly variation, January, February, March, and November represented the peak period, comprising 50.3% of the confirmed cases. Concerning lesion localization, facial lesions were the most common, representing 38.22% of the total cases.

Conclusion: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is found among individuals in the surveyed hospitals, suggesting a significant health issue. Further research is necessary to determine the diseases spread across Iraq and to guide control measures.