Studies on zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate, Egypt.

Leishmaniasis (cutaneous, CL. and visceral, VL.) is an increasing public health problem in the Mediterranean Region. From a practical point of view, ZCL is the most important and distributed form in Egypt. Consequently, it was aimed to study the status of ZCL among a group of temporary workers in North Sinai Governorate. The results showed that (i) rodent populations are more or less common in Al Arish City (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), Bir Lehfan (Gerbillus pyramidum) and Abo Oegela (G. pyramidum. Meriones crassus and Jaculus jaculus). (ii) Phlebotomus papatasi the main vector of ZCL is common in nearly all areas in North Sinai. (iii) ZCL. was identified (smear and/or culture as well as IHAT) among five workers out of 30 (16.7%). (iv) isolates recovered from P. papatasi trapped in Sad Al Rawafei and G. pyramidum trapped in Abo Oegela proved biochemically (isoenzyme cellulose acetate electrophoresis) to be Leishmania major indistinguish from each other. Discussion and recommendations were given.