Vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Marvdasht district, southern Islamic Republic of Iran

• Main Authors: Rassi, Y., Gassemi, M.M., Javadian, E., Rafizadeh, S., Motazedian, H., Vatandoost, H.
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Disease Reservoirs; Disease Vectors; Insect Vectors; Rudent Diseases; Leishmaniasis; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: http://www.who.int/iris/handle/10665/117300; http://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/1303/13_3_2007_686_693.pdf

686-693 An epidemiological study was made of vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural regions of Marvdasht, Fars province, southern Islamic Republic of Iran during 2003-04. Using live traps, 126 rodents were collected: 75.4% were Meriones libycus, 14.3% Cricetulus migratorius and 10.3% Microtus arvalis. Eight out of 95 Meriones libycus [8.4%] were found to be infected with Leishmania major, identified by nested-PCR; none of the other rodents were positive. Female sandflies were collected from indoor locations: 75% were Phlebotomus papatasi and only 2.7% were found naturally infected with L. major. This is the first report of P. papatasi as a proven vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in this area