Spatial Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in District Lakki Marwat, Pakistan: A Comprehensive Study Utilizing GIS and Entomological Surveys

Objective: The study investigates the Phlebotominae species, epidemiological patterns, and spatial distribution of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in district Lakki Marwat, Pakistan. Method: An entomological survey was conducted in the main city and surrounding union councils (UCs) of Lakki Marwat to characterize Phlebotominae species. Epidemiological data for microscopically confirmed CL cases reported between March 2016 and May 2023 were obtained from the District Health Office, Lakki Marwat. Temporal trends in annual reported case counts were assessed using simple linear regression for the complete reporting years 2017–2022. Annual and cumulative UC-level reported incidence were calculated as cases per 1000 population using the 2023 census population as the denominator, and choropleth maps were generated in R (version 4.4.2) to examine spatial patterns. Results: Among 834 collected Phlebotominae specimens, Sergentomyia babu (29.37%) and Sergentomyia baghdadis (22.78%) were the most abundant species. A total of 2393 confirmed CL cases were reported during the epidemiological study period. Annual case numbers showed an overall upward pattern across the complete reporting years 2017–2022, with an estimated increase of 61.5 cases per year; however, the temporal trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.104, R2 = 0.524). Spatial mapping showed variation in reported CL incidence across UCs, with relatively high incidence observed in some eastern and northern areas of the district, particularly in 2022. Conclusions: This study’s findings offer useful insights into the clinical characteristics of the affected population, as well as the epidemiology and spatial distribution of CL in the study area. This information may support targeted epidemiological surveillance, prevention, and control measures.