Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria)
Cutaneous leishmaniasis, the most common form of leishmaniasis, causes long-term skin lesions on exposed areas of the skin. It is caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus <i>Leishmania</i> and is transmitted via infected phlebotomine sand flies. In North Africa, particularly...
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/10/2608 |
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| author | Fatma Messaoudene Slimane Boukraa Said Chaouki Boubidi Ahlem Guerzou Abdeldjalil Ouahabi |
| author_facet | Fatma Messaoudene Slimane Boukraa Said Chaouki Boubidi Ahlem Guerzou Abdeldjalil Ouahabi |
| author_sort | Fatma Messaoudene |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cutaneous leishmaniasis, the most common form of leishmaniasis, causes long-term skin lesions on exposed areas of the skin. It is caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus <i>Leishmania</i> and is transmitted via infected phlebotomine sand flies. In North Africa, particularly Algeria, the disease represents a major public health problem. This retrospective study, which focuses on the agropastoral region of Djelfa (central Algeria) during a period of 16 years, from 2006 to 2021, is part of the surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis to identify the key factors favouring its probable spread. The analyzed data reveal that this disease is more prevalent in male patients (53.60%) and is highly widespread in this vast area of 66,415 km<sup>2</sup> with a total of 3864 CL cases, reaching a peak of 1407 cases in 2006. Statistically, the Pearson correlation validated by the <i>p</i>-value shows, in an original and sometimes unexpected way, that certain factors, such as temperature linked to climate change, are playing a significant role in the probable spread of the disease in Djelfa and its surrounding regions. The concentration of the population in some specific rural areas with limited or nonexistent access to public health services is another potential factor in disease transmission. The results were highlighted by a significant correlation coefficient (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.66</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) with a <i>p</i>-value less than 0.01. While there is currently no vaccine or prophylactic drug available, our research represents a preliminary approach that addresses various epidemiological aspects of the disease. This paves the way for a proactive preventive strategy involving the control of vector-borne diseases. |
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| format | Article |
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| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:01:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-59ee55b266184b6cbc72637ab512200f2023-11-19T17:29:21ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-10-011110260810.3390/microorganisms11102608Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria)Fatma Messaoudene0Slimane Boukraa1Said Chaouki Boubidi2Ahlem Guerzou3Abdeldjalil Ouahabi4Exploration and Valorization of Steppe Ecosystems Laboratory, Faculty of Nature and Life Science, Ziane Achour University of Djelfa, Djelfa 17000, AlgeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Forestry Zoology, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, El-Harrach 16004, AlgeriaLaboratoire d’Eco-Epidémiologie Parasitaire et Génétique des Populations, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Dely-Brahim 16047, AlgeriaExploration and Valorization of Steppe Ecosystems Laboratory, Faculty of Nature and Life Science, Ziane Achour University of Djelfa, Djelfa 17000, AlgeriaUMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, Université de Tours, 37020 Tours, FranceCutaneous leishmaniasis, the most common form of leishmaniasis, causes long-term skin lesions on exposed areas of the skin. It is caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the genus <i>Leishmania</i> and is transmitted via infected phlebotomine sand flies. In North Africa, particularly Algeria, the disease represents a major public health problem. This retrospective study, which focuses on the agropastoral region of Djelfa (central Algeria) during a period of 16 years, from 2006 to 2021, is part of the surveillance of cutaneous leishmaniasis to identify the key factors favouring its probable spread. The analyzed data reveal that this disease is more prevalent in male patients (53.60%) and is highly widespread in this vast area of 66,415 km<sup>2</sup> with a total of 3864 CL cases, reaching a peak of 1407 cases in 2006. Statistically, the Pearson correlation validated by the <i>p</i>-value shows, in an original and sometimes unexpected way, that certain factors, such as temperature linked to climate change, are playing a significant role in the probable spread of the disease in Djelfa and its surrounding regions. The concentration of the population in some specific rural areas with limited or nonexistent access to public health services is another potential factor in disease transmission. The results were highlighted by a significant correlation coefficient (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0.66</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) with a <i>p</i>-value less than 0.01. While there is currently no vaccine or prophylactic drug available, our research represents a preliminary approach that addresses various epidemiological aspects of the disease. This paves the way for a proactive preventive strategy involving the control of vector-borne diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/10/2608cutaneous leishmaniasisepidemiologyrisk factorsDjelfaAlgeria |
| spellingShingle | Fatma Messaoudene Slimane Boukraa Said Chaouki Boubidi Ahlem Guerzou Abdeldjalil Ouahabi Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) Microorganisms cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemiology risk factors Djelfa Algeria |
| title | Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) |
| title_full | Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) |
| title_fullStr | Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) |
| title_short | Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Africa and Its Threats to Public Health: A Statistical Study Focused on Djelfa (Algeria) |
| title_sort | human cutaneous leishmaniasis in north africa and its threats to public health a statistical study focused on djelfa algeria |
| topic | cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemiology risk factors Djelfa Algeria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/10/2608 |
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