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Background&Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Iran and there are different systemic and local treatments for this disease. There is continuous investigation for finding the most efficient and economical method with little side effects for the treatment of cutaneous leishemaniasis. For this purpose we performed a comparative study between intralesional glucantime injection and cryotherapy in the treatment of papular cutaneous leishmaniasis. Materials&Methods: In this clinical trial 47 patients with papular cutaneous leishmaniasis refered to dermatology clinic of Ghaem hospital in Mashhad were assayed. All patients had positive direct smears. They divided randomly in two groups. First group treated by weekly intralesional glucantime injection and second group treated by weekly cryotherapy. The length of therapy for two groups was 5 weeks. Two groups were followed for 1.5 months after the last week of the treatment. Results: Thirty eight patients completed the study, 21 patients with 35 lesions and 17 patients with 36 lesions were treated by interalesional injection of glucantime and cryotherapy respectively. Clinically in interalesional glucantime group 37.1% of lesions and in cryotherapy group 22.2% of lesions completely cured. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant using chi-square test. Conclusion: Cryotherapy in comparison with interalesional glucantime injection is equally effective and also is cheaper with little side effect.

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Background and Objective: Treatment of Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with oral therapeutic drugs, ideally cheap, with good tolerance and safe are highly desirable.The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of azithromycin (AZ) for treatment of patients with CL in Ahvaz – Iran. Materials and Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial study, 28 patients with CL as cases (AZ group) and 26 patients as control (C group) were studied. Cases were treated orally 500 mg/day of azithromycin in single dose for 28 days. Patients in control group did not receive any treatment. Both groups were followed up in days 14, 28 and month 2 and 5. Data were analyzed in SPSS-11.5 by using chi square and exact Fisher's tests. Results: Means±SD age of subjects was 20.26±8.45 years. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The half of the patients resided in rural area. At the end of study treatment. 46.4% of patients in AZ group and 15.4% of patients in control group were cured (P<0.02). One relapse of CL was observed in AZ group, no serious drug side effects was observed. Conclusion: This study showed that azithromycin has an acceptable effect on the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iranian patients and can be used alternatively in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

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Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniases with two forms of rural and urban is the endemic diseases and as a health problem in our country. Identification of parasite species and type of disease is very important for treatment of disease as well as for planning of control program. The microscopic observations by Giemsa-stained smears is the most common laboratory test for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, but the determination of parasite species is impossible and utilization of other ways such as biochemical and molecular methods is required. This study was carried out to determine the parasite species caused cutaneous Leishmaniasis by Nested PCR in Damghan, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 67 patients with dermal lesions that referred to Damghan health center laboratory in Iran during 2008. The patient's information were recorded in questionnaire. DNA of Giemsa-stained slides from patients was extracted and evaluated by specific primers of kinetoplast DNA using Nested PCR.

Results: Leishmania parasites were observed in 57 patients under light microscope. The 10 patients were infected by other dermal diseases. The PCR result showed the parasite presence in lesions of 57 patients is Leismania major. 54% of patients were male and 46% were female. 72% of the patients were lived in rural areas. 50.9% of disease was observed in over 25 years old patients. Hands were the most common region of ulcer (44.7%). 48% of the patients had one ulcer and the other patients had two or more ulcers. High prevalence (31.6%) of disease was observed in October.

Conclusion: This study showed that zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis to be prevalent in this area and Nested PCR method is a sensitive and accurate to leishmania species characterization.

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Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the zoonosis disease which is transmitted by sand fly and has been considered as one of the most important health problems in Iran. This study was designed to assess the status of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Gonbad Kavoos, North of Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical retrospective study was performed on the two groups consist of: 1799 patients (995 men and 804 women) referred to health centers of Gonbad Kavoos in Golestan Province North of Iran during 2009-11. Also 278 men and 271 women were selected randomly in one of the villages for the assessment of acute and scar wounds. Patient’s characteristics such as age, sex, habitat, number and sites of ulcer(s), month and years of incidence were registered. Data were analyzed using SPSS-13 and Chi-Square test. Results: From 1799 under care patients, 995 cases (55.3%) were males and 804 cases (44.7%) were females (P<0.05). 1542 patients (85.7%) resided in rural areas, while 257 (14.3%) lived in urban areas (P<0.05). The most frequent age group was 0-9 years old (43.3%) (P<0.05). Hands were the most common sites of ulcer (42.3%) and 37.9% of the patients with one ulser. The highest prevalency of disease was observed in months of October and November (68.4%) 4% and 78.6% of subjects selected from villages were presented with acute wound and scar, respectivley. Conclusion: This study showed that Cutaneous leishmaniasis in 2010-11 was dispersed in Gonbad-Kavoos a city in North of Iran. The endemicity situation of this disease in this area is hypoendemic.

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Background and Objective: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne diseases which transmitted by sand flies to humans and other animals. This study was conducted to determine the effect of wild rodents control in decreasing zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Golestan province, north of Iran during 2016.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, rodent control operation was conducted using Zinc phosphide 2.5% in May, July and September 2019 in 45 villages of Gonbad Kavous County in Golestan province, north of Iran during 2016. The stages of operation in each of the villages were scored, as we considered 25 score for each stage of destruction of nests (one stage) and baiting in nests (three stages). Also, incidence rate which is reported in each of the villages was extracted. Finally, the relationship between rodenticide scores in each village with the incidence of disease was compared.
Results: There were rodent’s active burrows around 45 villages. After the end of rodents control operation, 17 villages got 0-25 scores, 8 villages 26-50, 16 villages 51-75 and 4 villages 76-100. The mean incidence rate in these villages was determined 3466.9±2473.5, 2828±1929.1, 4515.4±3478.4 and 636.3±546.6, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the implementation of  rodents control operation and incidence rate of ZCL, so that in villages with a score of between 76-100, the incidence rate was significantly lower than in the villages with a score of between 51 -75 and 26-50 (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Regarding the reduction of the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in villages with high scores in Gonbad-e Kavus County, north of Iran, the implementation of rodents control operation seems to be necessary.