Epidemiological study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Babylon province/ Iraq

The study included identification of Leishmania parasite from cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, by examination of smears from patients,Out of 215 cases suspected for cutaneous leishmaniasis included (61) pus and (178) tissue these pus sample were aspirated from the edges of the skin lesions examined in the advanced parasitology laboratory and DNA laboratory in the Department of Biology/ College of Science - University of Babylon at first by direct smear method to see the Amastigote phase. The cases included in this study belonged to some hospitals in the Babylon as Morjan Medical City Hospital (24), Musayyib General Hospital(17), Thu Al-Kifl General Hospital (29)and Hashimyah General Hospital(145), during the period from (October 2019 to March 2020). The distribution of infection in different age groups indicated that majority of cases belonged to (6-15) (39. 5%) age group and the infection was detected in both sexes with a predominance in males (57. 6%). The clinical picture of cutaneous lesions was suggestive to higher percentage of dry type (79. 6%) compared with wet type of lesions. Clinically, (64. 6%) of patients had multiple lesions. Most lesions were found on both face and trunk (45. 6%%). The highest number of cases was recorded during January (45. 2%). According to stain results (60. 6%) from the (61) total pus sample cases were positive to giemsa stain.