Human cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum in the Sidi Bourouis focus (Northern Tunisia): epidemiological study and isoenzymatic characterization of the parasites

According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis remains a major worldwide public health problem. The province of Sefrou located in the center of Morocco is a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The present study aims at evaluating the antileishmanial potential of Berberis sp.,Crataegus oxyacantha, Cistus salviifolius, Ephedra altissima and Lavandula dentatafrequently used by the local population. Methanolic extracts were tested against the promastigote form ofLeishmania tropica, Leishmania majorandLeishmania infantumusing tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay. The total phenol and flavonoids content of all extracts were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride, and potassium acetate solutions respectively. The plant extracts exhibited antileishmanial activity with variability depending on the tested strain and the plant species compared to Glucantime® used as control (IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) > 1,000 μg/mL). The best inhibition was observed with Berberis sp., againstLeishmania major(IC50 = 394.40 ± 3.02 μg/ml), andEphedra altissima(reported for the first time) againstLeishmania infantum(IC50 = 490.84 ± 3.15 μg/mL).Leishmania tropicahas shown the same sensitivity behavior toward the five extracts (in average IC50 = 540 ± 11.20 μg/mL). The total phenolic content was higher forCrataegus oxyacanthaandCistus salviifolius(140.67 ± 3.17 μg eq Gallic Acid (GA)/ mg of Extract (E) and 133.83 ± 9.03 μg eq GA/mg of E respectively), while flavonoid was higher forCistus salviifoliusandLavandula dentata(57.92 ± 2.46 μg eq Quercetin (Que)/ mg of Extract (E) and 41.53 ± 1.74 μg eq Que/mg of E). All the tested extracts present some promising aspects that may cure cutaneous leishmaniasis in the center of Morocco; further bioguided assays are needed to isolate the fractions and the bioactive molecule.

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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Algeria; Highlight on the Focus of M’Sila

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9050962 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 962

Author(s):

Razika Beniklef ◽

Karim Aoun ◽

Karim Boudrissa ◽

Meriem Ben Abid ◽

Kamel Cherif ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Psammomys Obesus ◽

Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽

Wild Rodents ◽

High Incidence ◽

Medical Importance ◽

Underlying Risk

Algeria ranks second after Afghanistan for the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) worldwide. Here, we report a 34-years retrospective analysis of CL in Algeria and focused on the most affected region, the M’Sila province. All 66 cutaneous isolates corresponded to Leishmania (L.) major. Our study of the sandfly and rodent fauna further highlighted the high density of Phlebotomus papatasi and additional phlebotomine species of medical importance, not previously identified in M’Sila. Wild rodents belonging to nine species were trapped in M’Sila, and Psammomys obesus and Meriones shawi were found infected by L. major. In addition, Leishmania infantum was isolated from two visceral leishmaniasis cases, one dog and its proven vectors (P. perniciosus, P. longicuspis, and P. perfiliewi) inventoried during the survey. The high incidence of CL in the M’Sila province is likely a consequence of the increase in minimum temperatures recorded that constitutes suitable conditions for establishing a high endemicity and leads to an explosive rise in leishmaniases cases in this region. A thorough investigation of the underlying risk factors is urgently needed to detect new cases earlier. All these would improve the preparedness to fight the disease.

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