Epidemiology of human visceral leishmaniasis in Taounate, a northern province of Morocco

We report the preliminary results of an epidemiological survey carried out in the locality of Ouled Hcein, province of Taounate (North Morocco) around one visceral leishmaniasis infant case. The strain isolated from the child was characterized by three methods as leishmania infantum and its isoenzyme pattern was indistinguishable from zymodeme MON-1. The human survey in the locality of origin of the index case did not show any additional case and the serology was negative for the whole people sampled. The canine survey showed that the highest seroprevalence of the canine disease was found in the locality of Ouled Hcein (27.1%) when compared to 4 surrounding localities. The entomological survey showed that amongst the demonstrated L. infantum vectors around the Mediterranean Basin, Phlebotomus longicuspis was the predominant species. Furthermore, the survey led to the indentification of one female of P. ariasi naturally infected with L. infantum, so this species should be at least one of the vectors of this parasite in this area. Thus, this study confirms that the transmission cycle of L. infantum in North Morocco is similar to the cycle found in the remaining Mediterranean area.