Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis challenges in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Iran (MATI): a collaborative attempt to combat the disease

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a main public health problem in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Iran, known as the MATI region. During the biennial meeting of Pasteur Institutes of the MATI region in November 2016 in Tehran, a Leishmania panel formed of scientists with different expertise in CL research from the MATI and Institut Pasteur in Paris, proposed a new consortium to develop an integrative research approach to better understand this disease. The proposed consortium synergizes three complementary thematics on Leishmania genetics, host immune response, and vector transmission. Moreover, assessing the social impact of CL with the aim to raise awareness at both the national and international levels will be a major focus of this consortium.

KEYWORDS:

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis
• Morocco
• Algeria
• Tunisia
• Iran (MATI)
• MATI regional meeting
• Institut Pasteur International Network (IPIN)
• Pasteur Institute of Iran

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to all participants in the meeting for their intellectual contributions.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

The meeting was financially supported by the Pasteur Institute of Iran, Institut Pasteur International Network (IPIN), The Mustafa Prize, CinnaGen Company and Islamic Development Bank.