In 2015, the mosquito Aedes albopictus was detected in Rabat, Morocco. This invasive species can be involved in the transmission of more than 25 arboviruses. It is known that each combination of mosquito population and virus genotype leads to a specific interaction that can shape the outcome of infection. Testing the vector competence of local mosquitoes is therefore a prerequisite to assess the risks of emergence. A field-collected strain of Ae . albopictus from Morocco was experimentally infected with dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), zika (ZIKV) and yellow fever (YFV) viruses. We found that this species can highly transmit CHIKV and to a lesser extent, DENV, ZIKV and YFV. Viruses can be detected in mosquito saliva at day 3 (CHIKV), day 14 (DENV and YFV), and day 21 (ZIKV) post-infection. These results suggest that the local transmission of these four arboviruses by Ae . albopictus newly introduced in Morocco is a likely scenario. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov APAFIS#6573-201606l412077987v2 .

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem in Morocco. Three distinct parasites are involved; Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiological and the clinical features of endemic foci of CL in Sidi Kacem and Ouazzane provinces in the north of Morocco including molecular identification of parasites. We studied the evolution and the distribution of 1,656 CL cases coming from 39 sectors in these provinces between 1997 and 2012. The causative agents of CL in these areas were identified by using the ITS1-PCR-RFLP method. A tendency of seasonality in incidence was observed, showing a peak in April. Most infected patients were from Ouazzane province. The patients' ages ranged from 6 months to 85 years; 54% of them were females. The highest rate lesions were found in the age group of 9 years or less and most lesions were localized in the face (79.6%). The movement of populations from neighboring endemic areas and establishment of habitation in areas where housing conditions are unfavorable favored the emergence of the disease.

The Smir marshes are a favorable environment for the growth of many mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae). The inventory of Culicidae species reveals 14 species, is 33% of the species of Morocco, distributed in four genera: Culex, Culiseta, Ochlerotatus and Anopheles (with 5, 2, 5 and 2 species respectively) which Anopheles labranchiae, vector of the agent of the malaria in Morocco until 2004. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal mesological affinities and we tried to explain the biotypology of mosquito populations of the site. These analyzes revealed several groups of stations and species according to various parameters, especially salinity.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica is a major health problem in Tadla-Azilal focus, Morocco, where the first case was registered, here, in one locality named Tanant in 1987. So far, CL remains endemic and largely widespread. The objective of this study was to analyze the current eco-epidemiological situation after thirty years of active transmission. Data used are the official ones, obtained from the Moroccan Ministry of Health.Between 1998 and 2015, 5518 CL cases were registered in three provinces; Azilal, Béni Mellal and Fquih Ben Salah. CL has spread, from the historical focus in Azilal along two axes; one to the Northeastern Mountains and the other to the Northwestern plains.CL infected both genders and all ages, with large number of women (53%) and children (75% had <9 years old). More interestingly, age range at risk was larger within females than males, and this difference was more pronounced in Fquih Ben Salah where the disease had newly emerged. Similarly, age ranges at risk were larger and fluctuated significantly each year particularly in new emerging areas in Béni Mellal and Fquih Ben Salah. All these variations may testify, at least in part, to the process of acquiring immunity.Altitude structured CL spatiotemporal distribution. CL was more prevalent in two altitudes ranges; 400–500 m and 800–900 m. The situation and duration of period of diagnostic of CL varied largely according to the altitude. These different scenarios could be related to the seasonal dynamics of vector populations.

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