Clinical and epidemiological study of onychomycosis among patients of the national institute of hygiene in rabat, Morocco (2016-2020).

Background And Purpose:  Onychomycosis is a common nail infection characterized by the discoloration, thickening, and detachment of nails. This study aimed to provide valuable insights into this pathology by assessing its prevalence, clinical aspects, related comorbidities, and causative agents in patients from a Moroccan population.

Materials And Methods:  This retrospective study was conducted on 1,606 subjects at the Mycology-Parasitology laboratory of the National Institute of Hygiene in Rabat, Morocco, over five years (2016-2020).

Coding-Complete Genome Sequences of a Delta Subvariant (AY.33) of SARS-CoV-2 Obtained from Moroccan COVID-19 Patients.

We report here the complete genome sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains obtained from Moroccan patients with COVID-19. The analysis of these sequences indicates that the identified strains belong to the AY.33 sublineage of the Delta variant.

High performance of a novel point-of-care blood test for infection in women from diverse regions of Morocco.

Point-of-care (POC) testing for infection has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis and management of toxoplasmosis, especially in high-risk populations in areas with significant environmental contamination and poor health infrastructure precluding appropriate follow-up and preventing access to medical care. Toxoplasmosis is a significant public health challenge in Morocco, with a relatively heavy burden of infection and, to this point, minimal investment nationally to address this infection. Herein, we analyse the performance of a novel, low-cost rapid test using fingerstick-derived whole blood from 632 women (82 of whom were pregnant) from slums, educational centres, and from nomad groups across different geographical regions (i.

Retrospective study on imported schistosomiasis in Morocco between 2005 and 2017.

Since 2004, no indigenous cases of schistosomiasis have been found in Morocco; only imported cases have been detected. The aim of the present study was to describe and analyse the epidemiological profile of imported schistosomiasis between 2005 and 2017, and, by this, attract attention to the probability of a reintroduction of this disease. During this period, 27 cases were recorded in Morocco, with a male predominance (13:1).

Survey and Diagnostic Challenges after Transmission-Stop: Confirming Elimination of in Morocco.

Clinical cases of Moroccan residents have been recorded since 2004, indicating successful interruption of transmission of infection at national level. The first national survey initiated in 2009 for among children born after 2004, applied diagnostic test was the HAMA-EITB, based on the Western blot technology, and molecular malacological diagnostic tools clearly confirm transmission stop. In 2015, a recent, small survey utilizing an HAI, ELISA tests and an ultrasensitive antigen test, FTCUP CAA, in a group of individual with a past history of infection.

Global initiative for congenital toxoplasmosis: an observational and international comparative clinical analysis.

Globally, congenital toxoplasmosis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and outbreaks of infection with T. gondii represent a significant, emerging public health burden, especially in the developing world. This parasite is a threat to public health.

Comparative evaluation of immunochromatographic dipstick test (ICT) rk39, soluble antigen ELISA and IFAT for the sero-diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Morocco.

A rapid, sensitive and specific tool for detection of Leishmania infantum infection in Humans would be highly desirable, because it would allow control interventions in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis. This study was carried out at the Reference National Laboratory of Leishmaniasis (RNLL) in National Institute of Hygiene (NIH) Morocco, in order to evaluate the diagnostic potential of immunochromatographic dipstick test (ICT) rk39 in Moroccan suspected VL patients. A total of 49 admitted patients with strong clinical suspicion of VL and 40 healthy controls were investigated for the performance of the ICT rk39.

Selecting accurate post-elimination monitoring tools to prevent reemergence of urogenital schistosomiasis in Morocco: a pilot study.

Background: After alleged stop of transmission of schistosomiasis and further down the line in post elimination settings, sensitive tools are required to monitor infection status to prevent potential re-emergence. In Rahala, where transmission cycle of Schistosoma haematobium is interrupted since 2004 but where 30% of snails are still infected by S. bovis, potential human S.

Epidemiological characteristics of a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in Settat, Morocco.

A new emerging focus of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (HCL) caused by Leishmania tropica was identified within the province of Settat. This study was performed in order to analyze the reasons of the extension of CL in this area, and to describe the clinico-epidemiological characteristic of this emerging focus during 2007-2012. A total of 553 suspected cases of CL were diagnosed in laboratory of Settat, controlled and confirmed in reference national laboratory of leishmaniasis in Rabat.

Molecular epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Beni Mellal and Fquih Ben Saleh provinces in Morocco.

Leishmaniases are parasitic diseases frequent in the Mediterranean Basin. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been recently emerged in several new foci, causing a public health problem in Morocco. This study was performed to evaluate the epidemiological status of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Beni Mellal and Fquih Ben Saleh Provinces and to identify the causative agent.

Multilocus Microsatellite Typing reveals intra-focal genetic diversity among strains of Leishmania tropica in Chichaoua Province, Morocco.

In Morocco, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania (L.) tropica is a major public health threat. Strains of this species have been shown to display considerable serological, biochemical, molecular biological and genetic heterogeneity; and Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE), has shown that in many countries including Morocco heterogenic variants of L.

Schistosoma haematobium detection in snails by DraI PCR and Sh110/Sm-Sl PCR: further evidence of the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in Morocco.

Background: This is the first study in Morocco to estimate snail infection rates at the last historic transmission sites of schistosomiasis, known to be free from new infection among humans since 2004. Screening of large numbers of snails for infection is one way to confirm that Schistosoma haematobium transmission has stopped and does not resurge.

Methods: A total of 2703 Bulinus truncatus snails were collected from 24 snail habitats in five provinces of Morocco: Errachidia, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Tata, Beni Mellal, and Chtouka Ait Baha.

Coexistence of Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum in Sefrou province, Morocco.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been recently emerged in new foci, posing a public health problem. Increasing cases of CL have been reported during recent years in Sefrou province, a previously non-endemic area. The present study was designed for epidemiological and parasitological characterization of the disease for the first time in this area.

Moroccan Leishmania infantum: genetic diversity and population structure as revealed by multi-locus microsatellite typing.

Leishmania infantum causes Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Morocco. It predominantly affects children under 5 years with incidence of 150 cases/year. Genetic variability and population structure have been investigated for 33 strains isolated from infected dogs and humans in Morocco.

IgG anti-toxoplasma antibodies among asymptomatic HIV-infected patients in Marrakesh-Morocco.

Detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies are of a great interest among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, since cerebral toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection within this vulnerable population. The IgG anti-T. gondii seroprevalence was assessed in 95 asymptomatic HIV-infected adults living in Marrakesh city and its surrounding areas.

[Imported malaria in northern central Morocco, 1997-2007].

After the elimination of autochthonous malaria in Morocco in 2004, control of imported malaria, based on epidemiological monitoring of the parasite and vector control, has become a priority. This retrospective study concerns imported malaria cases identified by optical microscopy at the regional epidemiological diagnostic laboratory of the Regional Health Department of Fes from 1997 through 2007. The results obtained showed that 56 of 68 (82%) samples examined were positive.

New clinico-epidemiologic profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Morocco.

During the past 20 years, cutaneous leishmaniasis has emerged as a major public health threat in Morocco. We describe distribution of Leishmania major and L. tropica in Morocco and a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L.