The Epidemiology of PCR-Confirmed Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Israel: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Leishmaniasis, mainly cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), is endemic in Israel. In recent years, the diagnosis of leishmaniasis has transitioned to a molecular diagnosis.

Objective: To summarize all cases of leishmaniasis and the identified species seen in Israel based on molecular diagnosis.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients diagnosed with leishmaniasis between January 2017 and December 2022. All five medical centers in Israel in which Leishmania diagnosis is performed were included: Soroka, HaEmek, Hadassah, Rambam, and Sheba, all utilized molecular diagnostic methods. Data on the annual number of cases, species, age, and gender were retrieved.

Results: During the years 2017-2022, a total of 4168 cases of leishmaniasis were diagnosed, which corresponds with ~7/100,000 inhabitants. (L.) and (L.) accounted for 84% and 14%, respectively. During the years 2020-2021, (L.) emerged as a new form of cutaneous disease [2.7% of cases during this period]. Visceral (L.) was found in five cases. Imported New World leishmaniasis accounted for 1% of the cases. (L.) affected more males (67%) while (L.) commonly affected more children and caused more facial lesions.

Conclusions: The mean annual number of cases during these years is ~700. The dominant species is (L.) Since 2020, cutaneous (L.) is an emerging infection in Israel.