Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Tuz

Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America (Dedet et al., 2003). There are an estimated 12 million cases worldwide and there are about 1.5 million new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) each year of which over 90% occur in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Brazil and Peru (Ashford et al., 1992). Old World disease primarily is caused by Leishmania tropica in urban areas and Leishmania major in dry desert areas (William, 2004). In Iraq Two species are presnt in Iraq: L. tropica, agent of anthroponotic CL, L, major, agent of zoonotic CL. Both ACL and ZCL occur in Iraq.ACL is mainly suburban (Communicable Disease Control, 2003). CL burden in Iraq, number of cases reported (incidence rate per 100,000): in 2001: is 625 cases and in 2000 is: 955 cases. While in the following years the (incidence rate per 100,000 increased (Ala, 2004). To determine the prevalence of CL in AL-TUZ General Hospital and to clarify the secondary bacterial infection in CL and its effect on natural history of disease.