Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Basrah Villages, South Iraq.

CL in Iraq is caused by both Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. Marshes Villages of Basrah province south Iraq are regarded as a rural area. A total of 35 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases 12 (34.28%) females and 23(65.71%) males were clinically registered from April 2013 to March 2014 in Health Care Center of Basrah Marshes Villages, South of Iraq are reported and investigated. All patients were parasitologically confirmed by stained smears and culture, the main clinical features were ulcerations. Number of cutaneous lesions per patients ranged from 1 to 5 with different lesions' size from 3x3 mm to 25x25 mm in diameter. Amastigotes form were detected in all cases 35 (100%), while promastigotes from were found in culture sample of 29 (82.8%) cases. The results were analyzed and evaluated. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Basrah marshes villages may differ from other regions because of the difference of the Leishmania strains, people life style, behaviors and difference in vectors and reservoir hosts.