Evaluation of Hematological Parameters and Immunological Indicators in Patients Infected with Leishmania Parasite in Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Background: Leishmaniasis is a public health threat facing Iraq and its transmission dynamics can be impacted by environmental and urban change, such as in the city of Najaf. This study quantifies hematological suppression and immune markers to assess related systemic physiopathology. Methods: A clinical cohort of 80 patients from Al-Sadr Teaching, Al-Hakim, and Najaf General Hospitals (May 2024 – April 2025; NCT05150537) was compared to 30 matched healthy controls. Statistical evaluations of hematological parameters and levels of cytokines (IL-10, IL-4, IFN-γ) were performed. Results 81.3% patients had clinically significant leucopenia (WBC < 3.5 ×103/cc$). Cytokine production was biased towards a strong Th2 deviation with elevated IL-10 ($154.2 \pm 28.5$ pg/ml) and dramatically reduced IFN-γ ($18.5 \pm 4.7$ pg/ml). Lite is still in beta and does not currently support PMCs, but the public is strongly supported.] This result supports the hypothesis and lends credence to elevated IL-10 as an early immunologic escape mechanism that hastens hematological failure against the background of the Iraqi environment.