Karima EL-MOUHDI - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Karima EL-MOUHDI
Sciendo eBooks, Jul 13, 2023
Research Square (Research Square), Mar 23, 2022
An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and... more An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and by contacting the authors of unpublished works. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of the bias assessment tool. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Zotero and R software were used for data management and statistical processing. Results Descriptive analysis shows that 91.9% of dogs in Morocco lived without veterinary care and 75.8% chained. Two strains of Leishmania were found to be involved in both cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis in dogs: L. tropica and L. infantum, but the latter is the most common. A meta-analysis was conducted, the results showed an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 0.12-0.22). Signi cant differences were recorded between regions. The maximum values were reported successively in the provinces more bordering the Mediterranean and those in the center of the country. Risk factors were found to be associated with Leishmania in dogs in Morocco. The risk was found to be high in clinically asymptomatic dogs (RR = 2.08 [95% CI: 1.15-3.76; p = 0.02]) with a high prevalence (9% (95% CI [0.06-0.13]; p < 0.00001). Age was strongly associated with the occurrence of the disease, the prevalence is increased with the age of the dog, it is 30% (95% CI [-0.09-0.68]; p = 0.13). The prevalence was also very high in dogs living in rural areas (18% [95% CI: 0.14-0.23]; p < 0.00001) and in altitudes exceeding 1000 m (23% [95% CI:-0.08-0.53]). Conclusion The present systematic review and meta-analysis are the rst of its kind in Morocco and indicate that canine leishmaniasis is common in the regions bordering the Mediterranean coast and the center of the country. It will be possible to predict the epidemiological trend of human visceral leishmaniasis. Monitoring and control actions are needed to improve management strategies of the canine reservoir and interrupt the cycle of transmission to humans. In addition, the National Leishmaniasis Control Program (NLCP) focuses its canine reservoir control activities on the dog as the main reservoir of the visceral form of human leishmaniasis 2. Although human visceral leishmaniasis has long been known to be associated with canine leishmaniasis, however, until today there is no information on the status of Leishmania infection in dogs, nor on the overall prevalence estimate of canine leishmaniasis in Morocco that could be used by policymakers for effective management of the canine reservoir and prevention of human cases of the visceral form of the disease. Therefore, this study aims to provide combined data summarizing the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis and its variations at the regional and provincial levels. In addition, this systematic review and meta-analysis are scienti c evidence related to the issue of control of the dog as a reservoir host of human visceral leishmaniasis, by exploring the active foci and risk factors associated with Leishmania sp in dogs in Morocco. Methods The objective of this work is to evaluate the status of canine leishmaniasis in the whole Moroccan territory. The latter is geographically located in the northwest of Africa. It is bounded by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West (Fig. 1). Currently, the administrative division into 12 regions is adopted in Morocco since 2015 (HCP, 2014, p.). The total area of Morocco is 710,850 km 2 and its population is estimated at 33.8 million inhabitants, 40% of whom live in rural areas (HCP & World Bank, 2017). With its two maritime facades: Atlantic and the Mediterranean and its temperate continental climate, in summer, dry seasons especially in its arid and semi-arid areas, while in winter, cold seasons in its humid and sub-humid areas (Driouech, 2010). The average annual rainfall varies from 500 to 2000 mm in the northern region, from 200 to 1000 mm in the western and central region, from 100 to 200 mm in the eastern region, and less than 100 mm in the south of the country (Masen, 2018).
Environmental science and engineering, 2023
The Scientific World Journal
Sand flies are the exclusive vectors of leishmaniasis. This group of parasitic diseases is a seri... more Sand flies are the exclusive vectors of leishmaniasis. This group of parasitic diseases is a serious public health problem in Morocco. The aim of this study was to investigate the sand fly fauna, mainly the species composition, biodiversity, and seasonal activity of sand flies in El Hajeb in central Morocco. A total of six stations (Aït Naaman, Aït Rbaa, Aït Brahim, Ain Taoujdate, Sidi Mbarek, and Aït Oufella) were studied, five of which had recently recorded cases of leishmaniasis. Sand fly bimonthly captures were carried out using a sticky paper trap in different biotopes from March to December 2019. A total of 14590 adult sand flies were collected. The activity of the sand fly started in April and declined in November. The periods of high abundance were July, September, and November. Morphological identification of sand flies shows the presence of twelve species: Phlebotomus papatasi, P. longicuspis, P. perniciosus, P. sergenti, P. bergeroti, P. alexandri, P. dreyfussi, P. ariasi...
Nursing Forum
Simulation in nursing is considered an innovative pedagogy for the development of clinical skills... more Simulation in nursing is considered an innovative pedagogy for the development of clinical skills of nursing staff. A National Forum was held for the first time in Morocco concerning the pedagogy of simulation in nursing to raise awareness among educators and practitioners on the educational value of such an initiative in the field of nursing. The goals of this study were to describe the development of the first National Forum in Morocco on Nursing Simulation and to assess the satisfaction of participants with the different activities of this national event. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were used to assess the level of participant satisfaction with the simulation. This event gathered more than 250 participants from different Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (HINPHT) of Morocco during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June 2022 held at the HINPHT institute of Fez. 163 participants agreed to ...
Emerging Trends in Disease and Health Research Vol. 6
Applied and Environmental Soil Science
Groundwater is a vital resource and a development lever for many countries, including Morocco. To... more Groundwater is a vital resource and a development lever for many countries, including Morocco. To develop these resources, mineralogical and hydrogeochemical studies as well as a bacteriological study were carried out on the groundwater of the Angads aquifer, which is located in the northeast of Morocco to highlight the processes at the origin of mineralization, their quality for human consumption and irrigation, as well as the hydrogeochemical facies of these waters. To do this, a multivariate statistical analysis using principal component analysis, varimax rotation of factors, and hierarchical ascending classification were conducted for all the groundwater samples of the Angads aquifer in Oujda. The main results revealed that these waters present faecal contamination by faecal and total coliforms and faecal streptococci. And another one by nitrates due to the high values of NO3−, as well as the mineralization of these waters is controlled by the nature of the geological formations...
Journal of Parasitic Diseases
An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and... more An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and by contacting the authors of unpublished works. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of the bias assessment tool. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Zotero and R software were used for data management and statistical processing. Results Descriptive analysis shows that 91.9% of dogs in Morocco lived without veterinary care and 75.8% chained. Two strains of Leishmania were found to be involved in both cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis in dogs: L. tropica and L. infantum, but the latter is the most common. A meta-analysis was conducted, the results showed an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 0.12-0.22). Signi cant differences were recorded between regions. The maximum values were reported successively in the provinces more bordering the Mediterranean and those in the center of the country. Risk factors were found to be associated with Leishmania in dogs in Morocco. The risk was found to be high in clinically asymptomatic dogs (RR = 2.08 [95% CI: 1.15-3.76; p = 0.02]) with a high prevalence (9% (95% CI [0.06-0.13]; p < 0.00001). Age was strongly associated with the occurrence of the disease, the prevalence is increased with the age of the dog, it is 30% (95% CI [-0.09-0.68]; p = 0.13). The prevalence was also very high in dogs living in rural areas (18% [95% CI: 0.14-0.23]; p < 0.00001) and in altitudes exceeding 1000 m (23% [95% CI:-0.08-0.53]). Conclusion The present systematic review and meta-analysis are the rst of its kind in Morocco and indicate that canine leishmaniasis is common in the regions bordering the Mediterranean coast and the center of the country. It will be possible to predict the epidemiological trend of human visceral leishmaniasis. Monitoring and control actions are needed to improve management strategies of the canine reservoir and interrupt the cycle of transmission to humans. In addition, the National Leishmaniasis Control Program (NLCP) focuses its canine reservoir control activities on the dog as the main reservoir of the visceral form of human leishmaniasis 2. Although human visceral leishmaniasis has long been known to be associated with canine leishmaniasis, however, until today there is no information on the status of Leishmania infection in dogs, nor on the overall prevalence estimate of canine leishmaniasis in Morocco that could be used by policymakers for effective management of the canine reservoir and prevention of human cases of the visceral form of the disease. Therefore, this study aims to provide combined data summarizing the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis and its variations at the regional and provincial levels. In addition, this systematic review and meta-analysis are scienti c evidence related to the issue of control of the dog as a reservoir host of human visceral leishmaniasis, by exploring the active foci and risk factors associated with Leishmania sp in dogs in Morocco. Methods The objective of this work is to evaluate the status of canine leishmaniasis in the whole Moroccan territory. The latter is geographically located in the northwest of Africa. It is bounded by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West (Fig. 1). Currently, the administrative division into 12 regions is adopted in Morocco since 2015 (HCP, 2014, p.). The total area of Morocco is 710,850 km 2 and its population is estimated at 33.8 million inhabitants, 40% of whom live in rural areas (HCP & World Bank, 2017). With its two maritime facades: Atlantic and the Mediterranean and its temperate continental climate, in summer, dry seasons especially in its arid and semi-arid areas, while in winter, cold seasons in its humid and sub-humid areas (Driouech, 2010). The average annual rainfall varies from 500 to 2000 mm in the northern region, from 200 to 1000 mm in the western and central region, from 100 to 200 mm in the eastern region, and less than 100 mm in the south of the country (Masen, 2018).
Background Sandflies are small midges that are the exclusive vectors of cutaneous and visceral le... more Background Sandflies are small midges that are the exclusive vectors of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. These diseases are a public health problem in Morocco. Objective: To determine the composition of the phlebotomine fauna, to study the biodiversity and seasonal distribution of phlebotomine in the province of El Hajeb. Methods A total of six stations were surveyed, five of which had recorded cases of indigenous leishmaniasis in recent years. Bi-monthly captures from April to December 2019 were carried out using adhesive trapping in different biotopes. Results A total of 14590 sand flies were collected of which males represent 80.3%. The activity of the sand fly population started in April and ended at the end of November. The periods of high abundance were in July, September and November. Morphological identification of fasting males and females (14070 specimens) shows the presence of twelve species belonging to the genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia: P. longicuspis (79.4%),...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Sand flies are insect vectors of several diseases including leishmaniases. These vector-borne dis... more Sand flies are insect vectors of several diseases including leishmaniases. These vector-borne diseases represent a public health problem in several countries around the world, including Morocco. The objective of this study was to assess simultaneously the knowledge of health professionals and inhabitants on sand flies; a cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2019 among 424 people, 34% of whom were health professionals and 66% of whom were inhabitants of the province of El Hajeb in central Morocco; 46.3% of doctors, 50.7% of nurses, 66.7% of midwives and 69.4% of inhabitants showed a low knowledge of sand flies. Most participants believed that sand flies breed in stagnant and polluted waters. Negative attitudes were found among 72.2% of the inhabitants. Factors associated with a high level of knowledge included continuing education among health professionals and information on vector-borne diseases among residents. The conceptual and cognitive gaps in the knowle...
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, 2020
The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in par... more The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in particular continues to be a subject of research and analysis. Changes in climatic parameters contribute to the creation of ecological conditions favorable to the multiplication of the vectors of certain diseases. With this in mind, this study presents an entomological survey conducted in Meknes prefecture and the study of the link between the abundance of sandflies, an indicator of the risk of leishmaniasis in a given area, and the climatic factors. Monthly trapping of this fauna was carried out during a year from March 2016 until April 2017 using adhesive traps. Climatic data from the region were used to determine the effect of climate on the distribution of sandflies. A total of 941 leishmaniasis vector specimens were captured. The dominant species is Ph. sergenti (73.32), followed by Ph. longicuspis (8.25%), then Ph. perniciosus (7.94%) and Ph. papatasi (6.31%). The sex ratio study show...
Dermatology Research and Practice, 2020
Background. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic dermal disease transmitted to humans... more Background. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic dermal disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female sand fly. Morocco hopes to eliminate all forms of leishmaniasis by 2030. These dermatoses pose a real public health problem in the country. Although the information is available on the disease, individual knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and sand fly is not yet developed. Exploring people’s beliefs and popular behaviours about cutaneous leishmaniasis and its vector allows health officials to know the sociocultural aspects of the disease and to improve prevention and control actions. Objectives. To identify the knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and its vector in the population in central Morocco. Methods. Based on the epidemiological data of leishmaniases in the province of El Hajeb, we conducted a field survey and personal interviews in April and May 2019, among 281 persons belonging to the localities where leishmaniases were registered. Res...
Journal of Parasitology Research, 2020
Background. Morocco hopes to eliminate leishmaniases by 2030. These diseases exist in cutaneous a... more Background. Morocco hopes to eliminate leishmaniases by 2030. These diseases exist in cutaneous and visceral forms and constitute a serious public health problem. The fight against these parasitoses is carried out within the framework of a national program to control leishmaniases, which offers free treatment. However, the screening rate in public health structures does not exceed 35%. Objective. To determine the knowledge and experience of the social actors directly involved in the fight against leishmaniasis to contribute to analyse and understand the factors of this underreporting and to draw scientific recommendations to improve screening and control activities. Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory survey during April and May 2019 among all health professionals working in public health structures in the province of ELHajeb in central Morocco. Results. We found that most of the health professionals had good knowledge about the clinical sig...
European Scientific Journal ESJ, 2019
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted to humans by the bite of female sand fly. Thes... more Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted to humans by the bite of female sand fly. These parasitic infections are the second most common cause of parasite mortality worldwide after malaria and are endemic Asian and African countries. In Morocco, they pose a real health problem. The objective of this study is to determine the epidemiological situation of these diseases in the city of El Hajeb in central Morocco, analyze their evolution according to sex and age and assess their geographical distribution according to the environment. To do this, we carried out a retrospective study during the period from 2013 to 2017, collecting all the new cases of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis declared in this city. Data were collected at the register level from the delegation of the Ministry of health of El Hajeb. A total of twentyone new cases were declared infected. The coexistence of the two forms of leishmaniasis: 80.95% of cutaneous forms and 19.05% of the visceral form
![Research paper thumbnail of [Knowledge and behaviour of individuals towards sandflies’ vectors of leishmaniasis in Morocco]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/96516991/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2021
Background: Sandflies are active vectors of several diseases, including leishmaniasis, which Moro... more Background: Sandflies are active vectors of several diseases, including leishmaniasis, which Morocco hopes to eliminate by 2030. Despite efforts to limit their spread, they still remain a public health problem in the country, as the behaviour of individuals in relation to sandflies plays an important role in the sustainability of the epidemiological cycle. Aims: To explore and determine the knowledge and behaviours related to sandfly diseases. Methods: A quantitative method was adopted using a questionnaire assisted by a personal interview. Based on the epidemiological situation of leishmaniasis cases reported in recent years in Al-Hajeb province, we conducted a field survey among 281 persons in April and May 2019 residing in the communities where the cases of the disease are registered. Results: 61.6% of Moroccans know sandflies by the name “Chniwla”; 44.1% thought that sandflies do not transmit diseases; 41.3% thought they multiplied in contaminated water; 52.7% thought sandfly bi...
Sciendo eBooks, Jul 13, 2023
Research Square (Research Square), Mar 23, 2022
An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and... more An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and by contacting the authors of unpublished works. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of the bias assessment tool. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Zotero and R software were used for data management and statistical processing. Results Descriptive analysis shows that 91.9% of dogs in Morocco lived without veterinary care and 75.8% chained. Two strains of Leishmania were found to be involved in both cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis in dogs: L. tropica and L. infantum, but the latter is the most common. A meta-analysis was conducted, the results showed an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 0.12-0.22). Signi cant differences were recorded between regions. The maximum values were reported successively in the provinces more bordering the Mediterranean and those in the center of the country. Risk factors were found to be associated with Leishmania in dogs in Morocco. The risk was found to be high in clinically asymptomatic dogs (RR = 2.08 [95% CI: 1.15-3.76; p = 0.02]) with a high prevalence (9% (95% CI [0.06-0.13]; p < 0.00001). Age was strongly associated with the occurrence of the disease, the prevalence is increased with the age of the dog, it is 30% (95% CI [-0.09-0.68]; p = 0.13). The prevalence was also very high in dogs living in rural areas (18% [95% CI: 0.14-0.23]; p < 0.00001) and in altitudes exceeding 1000 m (23% [95% CI:-0.08-0.53]). Conclusion The present systematic review and meta-analysis are the rst of its kind in Morocco and indicate that canine leishmaniasis is common in the regions bordering the Mediterranean coast and the center of the country. It will be possible to predict the epidemiological trend of human visceral leishmaniasis. Monitoring and control actions are needed to improve management strategies of the canine reservoir and interrupt the cycle of transmission to humans. In addition, the National Leishmaniasis Control Program (NLCP) focuses its canine reservoir control activities on the dog as the main reservoir of the visceral form of human leishmaniasis 2. Although human visceral leishmaniasis has long been known to be associated with canine leishmaniasis, however, until today there is no information on the status of Leishmania infection in dogs, nor on the overall prevalence estimate of canine leishmaniasis in Morocco that could be used by policymakers for effective management of the canine reservoir and prevention of human cases of the visceral form of the disease. Therefore, this study aims to provide combined data summarizing the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis and its variations at the regional and provincial levels. In addition, this systematic review and meta-analysis are scienti c evidence related to the issue of control of the dog as a reservoir host of human visceral leishmaniasis, by exploring the active foci and risk factors associated with Leishmania sp in dogs in Morocco. Methods The objective of this work is to evaluate the status of canine leishmaniasis in the whole Moroccan territory. The latter is geographically located in the northwest of Africa. It is bounded by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West (Fig. 1). Currently, the administrative division into 12 regions is adopted in Morocco since 2015 (HCP, 2014, p.). The total area of Morocco is 710,850 km 2 and its population is estimated at 33.8 million inhabitants, 40% of whom live in rural areas (HCP & World Bank, 2017). With its two maritime facades: Atlantic and the Mediterranean and its temperate continental climate, in summer, dry seasons especially in its arid and semi-arid areas, while in winter, cold seasons in its humid and sub-humid areas (Driouech, 2010). The average annual rainfall varies from 500 to 2000 mm in the northern region, from 200 to 1000 mm in the western and central region, from 100 to 200 mm in the eastern region, and less than 100 mm in the south of the country (Masen, 2018).
Environmental science and engineering, 2023
The Scientific World Journal
Sand flies are the exclusive vectors of leishmaniasis. This group of parasitic diseases is a seri... more Sand flies are the exclusive vectors of leishmaniasis. This group of parasitic diseases is a serious public health problem in Morocco. The aim of this study was to investigate the sand fly fauna, mainly the species composition, biodiversity, and seasonal activity of sand flies in El Hajeb in central Morocco. A total of six stations (Aït Naaman, Aït Rbaa, Aït Brahim, Ain Taoujdate, Sidi Mbarek, and Aït Oufella) were studied, five of which had recently recorded cases of leishmaniasis. Sand fly bimonthly captures were carried out using a sticky paper trap in different biotopes from March to December 2019. A total of 14590 adult sand flies were collected. The activity of the sand fly started in April and declined in November. The periods of high abundance were July, September, and November. Morphological identification of sand flies shows the presence of twelve species: Phlebotomus papatasi, P. longicuspis, P. perniciosus, P. sergenti, P. bergeroti, P. alexandri, P. dreyfussi, P. ariasi...
Nursing Forum
Simulation in nursing is considered an innovative pedagogy for the development of clinical skills... more Simulation in nursing is considered an innovative pedagogy for the development of clinical skills of nursing staff. A National Forum was held for the first time in Morocco concerning the pedagogy of simulation in nursing to raise awareness among educators and practitioners on the educational value of such an initiative in the field of nursing. The goals of this study were to describe the development of the first National Forum in Morocco on Nursing Simulation and to assess the satisfaction of participants with the different activities of this national event. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were used to assess the level of participant satisfaction with the simulation. This event gathered more than 250 participants from different Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (HINPHT) of Morocco during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June 2022 held at the HINPHT institute of Fez. 163 participants agreed to ...
Emerging Trends in Disease and Health Research Vol. 6
Applied and Environmental Soil Science
Groundwater is a vital resource and a development lever for many countries, including Morocco. To... more Groundwater is a vital resource and a development lever for many countries, including Morocco. To develop these resources, mineralogical and hydrogeochemical studies as well as a bacteriological study were carried out on the groundwater of the Angads aquifer, which is located in the northeast of Morocco to highlight the processes at the origin of mineralization, their quality for human consumption and irrigation, as well as the hydrogeochemical facies of these waters. To do this, a multivariate statistical analysis using principal component analysis, varimax rotation of factors, and hierarchical ascending classification were conducted for all the groundwater samples of the Angads aquifer in Oujda. The main results revealed that these waters present faecal contamination by faecal and total coliforms and faecal streptococci. And another one by nitrates due to the high values of NO3−, as well as the mineralization of these waters is controlled by the nature of the geological formations...
Journal of Parasitic Diseases
An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and... more An exhaustive and thorough literature search was conducted to collect data in seven databases and by contacting the authors of unpublished works. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of the bias assessment tool. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Zotero and R software were used for data management and statistical processing. Results Descriptive analysis shows that 91.9% of dogs in Morocco lived without veterinary care and 75.8% chained. Two strains of Leishmania were found to be involved in both cutaneous and visceral forms of leishmaniasis in dogs: L. tropica and L. infantum, but the latter is the most common. A meta-analysis was conducted, the results showed an overall prevalence of 17% (95% CI: 0.12-0.22). Signi cant differences were recorded between regions. The maximum values were reported successively in the provinces more bordering the Mediterranean and those in the center of the country. Risk factors were found to be associated with Leishmania in dogs in Morocco. The risk was found to be high in clinically asymptomatic dogs (RR = 2.08 [95% CI: 1.15-3.76; p = 0.02]) with a high prevalence (9% (95% CI [0.06-0.13]; p < 0.00001). Age was strongly associated with the occurrence of the disease, the prevalence is increased with the age of the dog, it is 30% (95% CI [-0.09-0.68]; p = 0.13). The prevalence was also very high in dogs living in rural areas (18% [95% CI: 0.14-0.23]; p < 0.00001) and in altitudes exceeding 1000 m (23% [95% CI:-0.08-0.53]). Conclusion The present systematic review and meta-analysis are the rst of its kind in Morocco and indicate that canine leishmaniasis is common in the regions bordering the Mediterranean coast and the center of the country. It will be possible to predict the epidemiological trend of human visceral leishmaniasis. Monitoring and control actions are needed to improve management strategies of the canine reservoir and interrupt the cycle of transmission to humans. In addition, the National Leishmaniasis Control Program (NLCP) focuses its canine reservoir control activities on the dog as the main reservoir of the visceral form of human leishmaniasis 2. Although human visceral leishmaniasis has long been known to be associated with canine leishmaniasis, however, until today there is no information on the status of Leishmania infection in dogs, nor on the overall prevalence estimate of canine leishmaniasis in Morocco that could be used by policymakers for effective management of the canine reservoir and prevention of human cases of the visceral form of the disease. Therefore, this study aims to provide combined data summarizing the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis and its variations at the regional and provincial levels. In addition, this systematic review and meta-analysis are scienti c evidence related to the issue of control of the dog as a reservoir host of human visceral leishmaniasis, by exploring the active foci and risk factors associated with Leishmania sp in dogs in Morocco. Methods The objective of this work is to evaluate the status of canine leishmaniasis in the whole Moroccan territory. The latter is geographically located in the northwest of Africa. It is bounded by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea to the North, Algeria to the East, Mauritania to the South, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West (Fig. 1). Currently, the administrative division into 12 regions is adopted in Morocco since 2015 (HCP, 2014, p.). The total area of Morocco is 710,850 km 2 and its population is estimated at 33.8 million inhabitants, 40% of whom live in rural areas (HCP & World Bank, 2017). With its two maritime facades: Atlantic and the Mediterranean and its temperate continental climate, in summer, dry seasons especially in its arid and semi-arid areas, while in winter, cold seasons in its humid and sub-humid areas (Driouech, 2010). The average annual rainfall varies from 500 to 2000 mm in the northern region, from 200 to 1000 mm in the western and central region, from 100 to 200 mm in the eastern region, and less than 100 mm in the south of the country (Masen, 2018).
Background Sandflies are small midges that are the exclusive vectors of cutaneous and visceral le... more Background Sandflies are small midges that are the exclusive vectors of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. These diseases are a public health problem in Morocco. Objective: To determine the composition of the phlebotomine fauna, to study the biodiversity and seasonal distribution of phlebotomine in the province of El Hajeb. Methods A total of six stations were surveyed, five of which had recorded cases of indigenous leishmaniasis in recent years. Bi-monthly captures from April to December 2019 were carried out using adhesive trapping in different biotopes. Results A total of 14590 sand flies were collected of which males represent 80.3%. The activity of the sand fly population started in April and ended at the end of November. The periods of high abundance were in July, September and November. Morphological identification of fasting males and females (14070 specimens) shows the presence of twelve species belonging to the genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia: P. longicuspis (79.4%),...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Sand flies are insect vectors of several diseases including leishmaniases. These vector-borne dis... more Sand flies are insect vectors of several diseases including leishmaniases. These vector-borne diseases represent a public health problem in several countries around the world, including Morocco. The objective of this study was to assess simultaneously the knowledge of health professionals and inhabitants on sand flies; a cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2019 among 424 people, 34% of whom were health professionals and 66% of whom were inhabitants of the province of El Hajeb in central Morocco; 46.3% of doctors, 50.7% of nurses, 66.7% of midwives and 69.4% of inhabitants showed a low knowledge of sand flies. Most participants believed that sand flies breed in stagnant and polluted waters. Negative attitudes were found among 72.2% of the inhabitants. Factors associated with a high level of knowledge included continuing education among health professionals and information on vector-borne diseases among residents. The conceptual and cognitive gaps in the knowle...
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, 2020
The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in par... more The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in particular continues to be a subject of research and analysis. Changes in climatic parameters contribute to the creation of ecological conditions favorable to the multiplication of the vectors of certain diseases. With this in mind, this study presents an entomological survey conducted in Meknes prefecture and the study of the link between the abundance of sandflies, an indicator of the risk of leishmaniasis in a given area, and the climatic factors. Monthly trapping of this fauna was carried out during a year from March 2016 until April 2017 using adhesive traps. Climatic data from the region were used to determine the effect of climate on the distribution of sandflies. A total of 941 leishmaniasis vector specimens were captured. The dominant species is Ph. sergenti (73.32), followed by Ph. longicuspis (8.25%), then Ph. perniciosus (7.94%) and Ph. papatasi (6.31%). The sex ratio study show...
Dermatology Research and Practice, 2020
Background. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic dermal disease transmitted to humans... more Background. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected parasitic dermal disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female sand fly. Morocco hopes to eliminate all forms of leishmaniasis by 2030. These dermatoses pose a real public health problem in the country. Although the information is available on the disease, individual knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and sand fly is not yet developed. Exploring people’s beliefs and popular behaviours about cutaneous leishmaniasis and its vector allows health officials to know the sociocultural aspects of the disease and to improve prevention and control actions. Objectives. To identify the knowledge of cutaneous leishmaniasis and its vector in the population in central Morocco. Methods. Based on the epidemiological data of leishmaniases in the province of El Hajeb, we conducted a field survey and personal interviews in April and May 2019, among 281 persons belonging to the localities where leishmaniases were registered. Res...
Journal of Parasitology Research, 2020
Background. Morocco hopes to eliminate leishmaniases by 2030. These diseases exist in cutaneous a... more Background. Morocco hopes to eliminate leishmaniases by 2030. These diseases exist in cutaneous and visceral forms and constitute a serious public health problem. The fight against these parasitoses is carried out within the framework of a national program to control leishmaniases, which offers free treatment. However, the screening rate in public health structures does not exceed 35%. Objective. To determine the knowledge and experience of the social actors directly involved in the fight against leishmaniasis to contribute to analyse and understand the factors of this underreporting and to draw scientific recommendations to improve screening and control activities. Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory survey during April and May 2019 among all health professionals working in public health structures in the province of ELHajeb in central Morocco. Results. We found that most of the health professionals had good knowledge about the clinical sig...
European Scientific Journal ESJ, 2019
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted to humans by the bite of female sand fly. Thes... more Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted to humans by the bite of female sand fly. These parasitic infections are the second most common cause of parasite mortality worldwide after malaria and are endemic Asian and African countries. In Morocco, they pose a real health problem. The objective of this study is to determine the epidemiological situation of these diseases in the city of El Hajeb in central Morocco, analyze their evolution according to sex and age and assess their geographical distribution according to the environment. To do this, we carried out a retrospective study during the period from 2013 to 2017, collecting all the new cases of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis declared in this city. Data were collected at the register level from the delegation of the Ministry of health of El Hajeb. A total of twentyone new cases were declared infected. The coexistence of the two forms of leishmaniasis: 80.95% of cutaneous forms and 19.05% of the visceral form
Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2021
Background: Sandflies are active vectors of several diseases, including leishmaniasis, which Moro... more Background: Sandflies are active vectors of several diseases, including leishmaniasis, which Morocco hopes to eliminate by 2030. Despite efforts to limit their spread, they still remain a public health problem in the country, as the behaviour of individuals in relation to sandflies plays an important role in the sustainability of the epidemiological cycle. Aims: To explore and determine the knowledge and behaviours related to sandfly diseases. Methods: A quantitative method was adopted using a questionnaire assisted by a personal interview. Based on the epidemiological situation of leishmaniasis cases reported in recent years in Al-Hajeb province, we conducted a field survey among 281 persons in April and May 2019 residing in the communities where the cases of the disease are registered. Results: 61.6% of Moroccans know sandflies by the name “Chniwla”; 44.1% thought that sandflies do not transmit diseases; 41.3% thought they multiplied in contaminated water; 52.7% thought sandfly bi...