AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS (HUMAN BEEING AND ANIMAL RESERVOIR) IN DASHTESTAN AND DASHTI DISTRICTS, BUSHEHR PROVINCE, IRAN (1998-99)

Abstract

Epidemiological features of some of several foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), such as Bushehr province, had not been detected in Iran. This study was carried out for detection and characterization of epidemiological features of CL in these regions, from Oct. 1998 to Oct. 1999. All of the primary school children aged 7-14 years and total populations of 14 villages were examined for the presence of active lesions or scars of CL and Questionnaire was completed for all of them, using Epi-info performed analyses of data software and Chi-square as well as Fisher exact tests. For detection of animal reservoirs, 165 dogs were examined for the presence of cutaneous lesions of leishmaniasis. Also 192 rodents were trapped by Sherman traps, and prepared smears from their external edges of the ears, were studied for the presence of Leishman bodies. Using culture media and sub-dermal inoculation of parasites in the Balb/c mice isolated Leishmania parasites. Species identification of isolates was performed by RAPD-PCR technique. From the examined children 0.16% had active lesions and 19.3% had scars. These amounts in total population of the studied villages were 0.04% and 4.6%, respectively. The annual incidence of disease in total population of 5 from these 14 villages was 3.2 per thousand. Tatera indica was the predominant specie and in six of them (4.5%) Leishman bodies were seen. In this Study no rodents of other genera and dogs were found to be infected with Leishmania parasites. According to the results of RAPD-PCR technique, Leishmania major was the causative agent of leishmanial infections in human being and rodents. Therefore these regions of Bushehr province are another endemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran, and those methods, which had been recommended, for the control of ZCL should be used in this focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis.