Epidemiological characteristics of a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in Settat, Morocco

•We conducted the first epidemiological and molecular study in the new cutanuous leishmaniasis focus of Settat province in Morocco.•553 cases were reported between 2007 and 2012. Most of cases were from El Borouj sector.•The high prevalence of lesion was recorded among children under 11 years old.•The lesions were typically small and dry.•L. tropica MON-102 were identified by PCR ITS1 and isoenzyme technique on starch gel electrophoresis.