Background

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected worldwide, zoonotic, vector-borne, tropical disease that is a threat to public health. This threat may spread from endemic to non-endemic areas. Current research has exploited epidemiological, molecular and phylogenetical studies to determine the danger of an outbreak of CL in the borderline area between northern and central Iraq from 2014–2017.

Methodology/Principal findings

For the first time, using sequence analysis of the cytochrome b gene, the occurrence of CL in the borderline area between northern and central Iraq was confirmed to be due to Leishmania major. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that it was closely related to the L. major MRHO/IR/75/ER strain in Iran.

Conclusions and significance

In conclusion, the genotype confirmation of the L. major strain will improve our understanding of the epidemiology of the disease. This is important for facilitating control programs to prevent the further spread of CL. Furthermore, this area could be considered as a model for further research on the risk of global CL epidemics in other non-endemic countries where both reservoir hosts and sandfly vectors are present.

中文翻译：

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从2014-2017年开始，大流行利什曼原虫从地方病到非地方病的爆发对伊拉克构成了公共卫生威胁：流行病学，分子和系统发育研究

背景

皮肤利什曼病（CL）是一种在世界范围内被忽视的，人畜共患病，媒介传播的热带病，对公共健康构成威胁。这种威胁可能从流行地区扩散到非流行地区。当前的研究已经利用流行病学，分子和系统发育研究来确定从2014年至2017年在伊拉克北部和中部边界地区爆发CL的危险。

方法/主要发现

第一次，使用细胞色素b基因的序列分析，证实了在伊拉克北部和中部之间交界处出现CL是由于利什曼原虫引起的。系统发育分析表明，它与L密切相关。伊朗的主要MRHO / IR / 75 / ER菌株。

结论与意义

总之，L的基因型确认。大毒株将增进我们对这种疾病流行病学的了解。这对于促进控制程序以防止CL进一步传播很重要。此外，在存在水库宿主和沙蝇媒介的其他非流行国家中，该区域可作为进一步研究全球CL流行风险的模型。