Molecular Investigation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) from Biopsy Samples: A Case Study of District Mohmand, KPK

Background: Leishmaniasis is a complex disease with diverse clinical manifestations and remains a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), being the most prevalent type, causes significant morbidity and social stigmatization. District Mohmand, an arid mountainous region in the KPK province of Pakistan, has an increased burden of CL with no prior molecular study reported on it in this region of Pakistan. Methods: The current study investigated CL using molecular techniques to detect and evaluate the risk factors associated with this disease in the affected population of District Mohmand. The study was conducted at Tehsil Head Quarter Hospital Mamad Gat, District Mohmand. Results: Out of 150 samples, 106 were found to be positive and 44 turned out to be negative under microscopy, while 122 were positive and 28 were negative using PCR analysis. Statistical analysis revealed that children between the ages of 1 and 10 years are frequently affected. Similarly, male gender is affected to a greater degree as compared to the female gender. Furthermore, the proportion of facial lesions was 62%, followed by upper limbs (17%), lower limbs (17%), and lesions on multiple sites (4%). These numbers are associated with various factors, such as the presence of domestic animals, lack of bed net usage, migration, and the type of wall and roof. Conclusion: The study concluded that children are more prone to infection. The PCR method was found to be more reliable for diagnosing CL as compared to microscopy.