IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FO R PURE & APPL. SC I. VO L.23 (3) 2010 The Effect of Dryness on the Prevalence of Few Cases of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Iraq S. A. Salman Department of Biology ,College of Sciences , University of Baghdad Abstract This is a contribution to study the complex effect of rainfall on the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area (AL-Mohalabiya) in Ninava province in the north region of Iraq. Key wards: effect .dryness .prevalence . cases . cutaneous leishmaniasis. AL-Mohalabiya. Ninava .north. Iraq. Introduction The cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the endemic diseases in Iraq [1-7] Many studies were performed on both vector and reservoir in many parts of Iraq [1,3,6,7,8] during the last century. Also the studies were oriented towareds the parasite and the different strains of Leishmania tropica and L. major with function to the geographical regions [3,6,7,8,9,10,]. The suspected animals as reservoir are dog, jackal and rodents [3,6,7]. The suspected vectors are Phlebotomus papatasi and Sergentomiya baghdadis [2,3,4,5,6,12]. The distribution of sandflies depends widely on the geographical regions of Iraq [2,3,5,6,8]. However the P.papatasi forms about 95% of the total density of the species [1,3,57,12]. The suitable places of breeding are animal shelters, deep crack in the soil, dog pits, and rodent’s barrows [3,5,7]. The number of rodents (as possible reservoir) depends widely on the cultivated area [3,7,10]. The plateau of Al-Jazera is well known in Iraq as the main source of wheat, and is depending entirely on rainfall. The main average of rainfall in Iraq in this region is (900) mm/year. In 1998 this average fall-of (-80%) was according to the Ministry of Irrigation. Method and Materials A traditional area of cutaneous leishmaniasis (AL-Mohalabiya) in north Iraq about 20 km in the west of Al –Moussal City was visited in October 1998. The number of cases in AL-Mohalabiya area was reported from the regional directorate of health during for the years1996, 1997 and 1998. Result and Discussion Al- Mohalbiyia area is well known as one of the endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ninava province [6,8]. The area is a wide flat plateau depends on rainfall as main source of irrigation to the wheat farms. Human dwelling is mud –block or cement made. The reported cases were 10, 108 and 0, respectively in 1996,1997 and 1998 Table(1). In 1998 the rainfall was fall-of (–80%) of the average and this reduced highly the quantities of wheat. Also the average of rodents barrows was (8) in 100 m 2 in the study area (about 1200 m2) in IHJPAS IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FOR PURE & APPL. SCI. VOL.23 (3) 2010 the south from the center of the main village. All these barrows were empty now (villagers estimates that the lost of wheat is about 25% of the outcome). Rodents were migrated towareds Tigris River in the west of the endemic area (about 20 km) due to the dryness [9]. So the number and density of sandflies were highly reduced [7,9]. As a result of that unfavorable condition for the reservoir the number of reported cases in 1998 was zero [3,5,7,8,9,12]. Also the villagers noticed that the sneak attacks dwelling in high numbers during the night to search for food are due to the absence of rodents as a main source of nutrition [9]. It is necessary to mention that any kind of insecticide was not used during the dates indicated in the table. This note indicates that the complex ecological elements affect the prevalence of this disease in this part of Iraq. It seems also that a more comprehensive study in this field is required. References 1.Abul-hab, J. and Al-Baghdadi, R. (1972) a: Seasonal occurrence of man biting Phlebotomus (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the Baghdad Area. Iraqi. Anal. Trop . Med. Parasitol .66, 165-166, . 2.Abul-hab J and Al-Hashimi, W. (1988): Night –biting activities, Phlibotomus papatasi Scolpi. (Diptera Phlibotamidae) In Suwira Iraq. Bull. End. Dis. Baghd.29, 5-16.. 3.Adler, S. and Theodor.O. (1929) a: The distribution of sand fly and Leishmaniasis in Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia.Ann. Trop. Med. Paras. 23, 269-303. 4.Adler, s.; Theodor, O. &Lourie, E.M. (1930): Sand fly from Persia &Palestine Bull .End. Res. .21: 529-539,. 5.Pringel, G: (1952) The sand flies (Phlebotominae) of Iraq. Bull.Ent.Res 43:707-734. 6.Pringel, G: (1957) Oriental sore in Iraq. Historical and epidemiological Problems. Bull.End.Dis.Bagh, 2:44-294. 7.Sukker, F(1982): A study on sand flies in a focus of infantile kala-azar inIraq during 1978. Bull.End.Dis.Bagh.20 (4), 67-73. 8.Sukker, F. (1983): Epidemiology of Leishmaniasis in IraqBull.End.Dis.Bagh. 22(4) 35-41. 9.Rioux, J.A, Croset H, et Lanotte, G: (1974) Ecologie d`un foyer mediterraneen de leishmaniose viscerale essai de modelisation.collegue intrenationux du C.N.R.S, No.39 Montpellier, 295-305. 10.AL-Alak, S.S(1996) Study in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Al- Magger district Missan province. MSc. thesis .Vet. Coll. Bagh.77. 11-Jawdat, S .Z; Ali N .A; Rifaat L. Kh; Ruth K. Y and Al Mahdawi S. K: (1985) Serio- epidemiological studies of Leishmaniasis in central Iraq. J.Biol. Sci.Res. 16(1): 185-202, . 12-Jawdat, S. Z; Ali N .A; Rifaat L. Kh. and Rutha KY: (1983) The incidence of kala –azar in an endemic focus in central Iraq.J.Biol.Sci.Res, 148:81-87, and. IHJPAS IBN AL- HAITHAM J. FOR PURE & APPL. SCI. VOL.23 (3) 2010 Table(1) Reported cases of leishmaniasis in the study area. Area of AL-Mohalabiya / NINAVA province Village No of cases Date Center 2 November 1996 Tal Al –Senn 2 Sheak Ibrahim 1 Farshah 1 Mosherfa 1 Ain al Waah 1 Al Yazidi 1 Gazial 1 Kaberatt 1 December 1996 Al Sahaji 1 Kaberatt 1 January 1997 Tal Zalatt 1 Adia 2 Al Boshih 1 Tal Seroall 5 February 1997 All villages 97 March 1997 All villages 0 During 1998 IHJPAS للعلوم الصرفة والتطبیقیة المجلد 2010) 3( 23مجلة ابن الھیثم اقفي شمال العر لجلديةتأثير الجفاف على انتشار بعض حاالت اللشمانيا ا شهاب احمد سلمان امعة بغدادج ،كلية العلوم ،قسم علوم الحياة خالصة ال ي البحث ھو محاولة لدراسة العالقة المعقدة القائمة بین انتش ذاھ ار مرض اللشمانیا الجلدیـة وسـقوط اإلمطـار ـف .لمنطقة الشمالیة من العراقفي محافظة نینوى في ا )المحلبیة(منطقة موبوءة IHJPAS