Immunological evaluation of Pentostam and Ivermectin used in the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Kirkuk, Iraq

The aim of this study was to obtain information about the parasitic disease Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), which has started to spread recently, in Iraq. To investigate the prevalence of parasites in the hospitals in the study area and to obtain information about the detected cases and to compare the currently used drugs (Pentostam and Ivermectin) with each other and to determine which one is more effective. The current study included patients infected with CL who attended a number of government hospitals in Kirkuk governorate and its affiliated districts, which include Hawija, Daquq, Debs, Riyadh, Taza and Altun Kobri for the period between 01/03/2022 to 15/08/2022. The current study showed that the highest rate of infection was in Hawija district. The rate was higher in males than in females. The study also included age groups ranging from less than one year to 70 years, and the most vulnerable age group to infection was the age group (1-10) years. There was a significant difference between the two treatments regarding the levels of immunoglobulins. The ivermectin group significantly inhanced the levels of the immune globulines (IgG, IgM) more than Pentostam but the IgE levels was higher in Pentostam group. The results suggest that treating of CL with different drugs, showed that the efficacy of ivermectin was higher than Pentostam in treatment of CL.