Micromeria graeca L. is a dense chemical source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, which have various health-related properties. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of different extractor solvents on phenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant and antifungal activities of different extracts. Initially, three extractor solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, and water) were used to prepare the Soxhlet extracts, which were then examined for their polyphenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant potential using three complementary assays (DPPH, FRAP, and TAC). The antifungal capacity against the two fungal strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) was performed using the method of diffusion on disc. The dosage of phytochemical compounds revealed that the highest values were established in water extract with values of 360±22.1mg GAE/g dry weight plant and 81.3±21.2mg RE/g dry weight plant for TPC and TFC, respectively. In addition, the strongest antioxidant activity measured by DPPH and FRAP assays was established in water extract with IC₅₀ values of 0.33±0.23 and 0.23±0.12mg/mL, respectively, while the methanol extract showed the best antioxidant activity as measured by TAC with an IC₅₀ of 483±17.6mg GAEq/g dry weight plant. The water extract recorded the most important antifungal activity against Candida albicans with an inhibition zone of 16±1.6mm and MFC=500μg/mL, whereas ethyl acetate extract showed the lowest activity against both studied fungi strains. Micromeria graeca L. contains considerable amounts of bioactive contents with high antioxidant and antifungal potentials, which may make it a promising source of antioxidants and natural antifungal agents.

Groundwater is a vital resource and a development lever for many countries, including Morocco. To develop these resources, mineralogical and hydrogeochemical studies as well as a bacteriological study were carried out on the groundwater of the Angads aquifer, which is located in the northeast of Morocco to highlight the processes at the origin of mineralization, their quality for human consumption and irrigation, as well as the hydrogeochemical facies of these waters. To do this, a multivariate statistical analysis using principal component analysis, varimax rotation of factors, and hierarchical ascending classification were conducted for all the groundwater samples of the Angads aquifer in Oujda. The main results revealed that these waters present faecal contamination by faecal and total coliforms and faecal streptococci. And another one by nitrates due to the high values of NO₃⁻, as well as the mineralization of these waters is controlled by the nature of the geological formations crossed and the residence time in the aquifer, which is confirmed by the presence of ions such as Cond, HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and SO₄²⁻. Concerning the quality of the groundwater, according to Moroccan standards and the World Health Organization, the results show that they are generally unsuitable for human consumption and irrigation. Two diagrams were used to study the facies: Piper and SchoellerBerkaloff. The results show that these waters are highly mineralized, with the chloride and sulphate calcic and magnesian facies dominating with 89.47. To protect this vital resource, sustainable management actions must be implemented, in particular, to reduce the use of pesticides, control the use of fertilizers, and clean up and purify the groundwater.

Background. Morocco hopes to eliminate leishmaniases by 2030. These diseases exist in cutaneous and visceral forms and constitute a serious public health problem. The fight against these parasitoses is carried out within the framework of a national program to control leishmaniases, which offers free treatment. However, the screening rate in public health structures does not exceed 35%. Objective. To determine the knowledge and experience of the social actors directly involved in the fight against leishmaniasis to contribute to analyse and understand the factors of this underreporting and to draw scientific recommendations to improve screening and control activities. Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we conducted an exploratory survey during April and May 2019 among all health professionals working in public health structures in the province of ELHajeb in central Morocco. Results. We found that most of the health professionals had good knowledge about the clinical signs of each form of leishmaniasis, but they had erroneous information about the true vector of the disease, the reservoirs, and the mode of transmission. 76% recognized the national leishmaniases control program and only 17% received continuing education. 85% of these professionals focused on the curative aspects of the program. 47% stated that patients do not adhere to the antileishmaniasis treatment, and 25% stated that the population uses the concept of “Hboub of Chniwla” to refer to cutaneous leishmaniasis. Conclusion. The study concluded that the operationalization of the activities of the leishmaniases control program recognizes some weaknesses which explain the underscreening of cases. Improvement of this situation requires the implementation of continuous training programs for caregivers and awareness-raising programs for citizens which should focus on the mode of transmission, preventive measures against reservoirs, sand flies bites, and recognition of lesions using the popular names of the disease as a starting point.

The impact of climate factors on the epidemiology of diseases in general and leishmaniasis in particular continues to be a subject of research and analysis. Changes in climatic parameters contribute to the creation of ecological conditions favorable to the multiplication of the vectors of certain diseases. With this in mind, this study presents an entomological survey conducted in Meknes prefecture and the study of the link between the abundance of sandflies, an indicator of the risk of leishmaniasis in a given area, and the climatic factors. Monthly trapping of this fauna was carried out during a year from March 2016 until April 2017 using adhesive traps. Climatic data from the region were used to determine the effect of climate on the distribution of sandflies. A total of 941 leishmaniasis vector specimens were captured. The dominant species is Ph. sergenti (73.32), followed by Ph. longicuspis (8.25), then Ph. perniciosus (7.94) and Ph. papatasi (6.31). The sex ratio study showed that males are more abundant than females for all species. The seasonal fluctuation is bimodal with two peaks, the first in July and the second in September. The results show a positive correlation between temperature and abundance of sandflies (r=0.99) and a negative correlation with humidity and precipitation with a correlation coefficient of r=0.87 and r=0.72. Indeed, the medium-term climatological forecasts are essential tools to develop a warning system for leishmaniasis.

Sand flies are insect vectors of several diseases including leishmaniases. These vector-borne diseases represent a public health problem in several countries around the world, including Morocco. The objective of this study was to assess simultaneously the knowledge of health professionals and inhabitants on sand flies; a cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2019 among 424 people, 34% of whom were health professionals and 66% of whom were inhabitants of the province of El Hajeb in central Morocco; 46.3% of doctors, 50.7% of nurses, 66.7% of midwives and 69.4% of inhabitants showed a low knowledge of sand flies. Most participants believed that sand flies breed in stagnant and polluted waters. Negative attitudes were found among 72.2% of the inhabitants. Factors associated with a high level of knowledge included continuing education among health professionals and information on vector-borne diseases among residents. The conceptual and cognitive gaps in the knowledge of sand flies reflect the lack of information and training on sand flies. The results of the sand fly knowledge review can be integrated into the national leishmaniases control program and the integrated vector management strategy to raise public awareness on the health risks of sand flies.