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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:leishmaniasis is a Zoonotic disease that is transmited by sandfly to human. This study were carried out in order to demonstrate some ecological characters of leishmaniasis vectors in Kalaleh district, Golestan province ,Iran, during 2006-07. Materials and Methods: In present study 6 villages were selected. Sandfly were collected by sticky traps. 3 places were sampled in each village and in each places 20 traps were installed. After sampling collection, we used diagnostic criteria to identify the Sandflies, also confirmed human cases were recorded according to the months of identification. Results: 4900 sandflies were detected in 6 villages and 12 species of sandflies were identified, which including P.papatasi, P.mongolensis, P.caucasicus, P.caucasicus group, P.sergenti, P.alexandri, P.kazeroni, P.brevis, P.(adlerius) sp, S.sintoni, S.clydei, S.sogdiana). P.papatasi was predominant species in indoor places (46.1%) and S.sintoni was in outdoor places (36.7%). Sandflies activities extended from early May through mid October with two peaks in mid June and September. Human infection had a important peak in January. During the collection of sandflies, the species of P.alexandri, P.kazeroni, P.brevis, P.(Adlerius sp.), S.clydei and S.sogdiana were collected for the first time from this area. Conclusion: In this study, P.papatasi was the predominant species in this area. Sandflies second activity peak occured in September that is crucial for transmission of disease. The incubation period for this disease was four months.

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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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protozoan of Leishmania genus and in Iran by Leishmania infantum. The protective immune response against VL is cellular immunity through Th1 CD4+, which dominant chemokiens are IL12, IFN- γ  and IL18 and lead to Th1 response. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on IL-18 gene and its relation to IL18 levels in blood and IL18 function have been studied in many inflammatory diseases such as Behcect’s disease and tuberculosis. According to the important role of IL-18 in immunity against visceral leishmaniasis, this study was conducted to demonstrate the prevalence of genotypes on -607A/C in promoter region of IL-18 gene.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done on 91 pateints with confirmed VL, 105 healthy sero-negative controls and 78 seropositive controls during 1999-2009. Salting out method was used to extract DNA and ARMS-PCR was used to determine the genotype of -607A/C allele of individuals. Statistical analysis of genotypes was performed using Chi-Square test.

Results: According to the results, -607C/C was the dominant genotype among the groups (35.8%). Distribution of genotypes among groups had not any significant difference. The lowest genotype among healthy sero-positive and patients were -607A/C and -607A/A, respectively. Statistical analysis of distribution of genotypes, did not reveal any significant difference among groups.

Conclusion: The dominant genotypes of VL patients, healthy sero-negatives and healthy sero-positives were -607C/C (38.5%), -607A/C (37.1%) and -607C/C (35.9%) respectively.

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Background and Objective: Epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis is affected by combination quality and interaction of Parasite-Vector-Host and environmental conditions. So, disease cycle related and eco-social factors and environmental risk factors co-analyzing, help to understanding these interactions, prognosis and orientation in disease control and treatment. This study was done to determine the role of nomadic and non-nomadic lifestyle in transmission of Kala-Azar in the Northwest of Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, firstly the prevalence of Kala-Azar among people living in selected villages were determined by both serological test (Direct Agglutination Test: DAT) and immunological test (Montenegro Skin Test: MST) in the Northwest of Iran, on the way of Shahsavan tribe travelling in summer/winter quarters villages. Then DAT was conducted on the dogs presenting in those villages during 2006. One year later Seroconversion rate was calculated through collection of the individual’s negative sera and re-analyzing them via DAT. Finally, occurrence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in relation with various involving factors like dog density/abundance and nomadic and non-nomadic lifestyle using Chi-Square test were determined.

Results: Both MST and DAT were significantly higher in the nomadic lifestyle than in the non-nomadic lifestyle (P<0.05). Three values of prevalence (5.5%), seropositivity (2.7%) and seroconversion (2.5%) were higher in nomads than non-nomads. The GIS studies and electronically prepared maps showed that the endemicity and the infection rate are higher in nomads than non-nomads. There were a negative correlation between general distribution of Visceral Leishmaniasis in relation with environmental conditions altitude, mean temperature and rainfall.

Conclusion: This study indicated that Nomadic lifestyle can play as a risk factor in transmission of Visceral Leishmaniasis due to nomads/dog contacting, their entering in the wild cycle of disease and travelling.

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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 main Zoonotic Vector-Born disease which is transmitted by sand flies to human and animals. This study was carried out to determine the ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, North of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 3 villages in Aliabad Katul district in north of Iran were selected according to rural geography distribution and positive detected samples of human infection during 2010-02. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps. Three places were sampled in each village and in indoor and outdoor places 10 traps were installed. Sand flies were collected and their species was determined. Results: Totally 299 sand flies (160 from indoors and 139 from outdoors) were collected and consequently, 7 species of sandflies were identified including 4 species of phlebotomus genus and 3 species of Sergentomiya genus Ph.papatasi (55%) and S.sintoni (51%) were predominant species in indoor resting places and outdoor places, respectively. Sand flies seasonal activity extended from mid May through early October. Sand flies had one peak of activity in early August. Among the detected species, S.hodgsoni reported for first time from Golestan province. Conclusion: Ph.papatasi was recognized as predominant species in Aliabad Katul district, Golestan provincein northern Iran.

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Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-azar, is one of the main parasitic vector borne diseases, which transmitted by sand fly. The current study reported the seven positive cases of Kala-azar in Maravetapeh county in Golestan province, Iran from 2007-15. Using geographic information system, villages which had confirmed cases of Kala-azar were identified and their geographical information was registered. Villages with confirmed cases of Kala-azar were introduced as at risk villages for visceral leishmaniasis. All of these cases were aged under 6 years and in all of them fever and splenomegaly was reported. All subjects had lower normal range of hemoglobin and plateles. These cases were reported from 6 villages in 3 districts of Maraveh Tapeh County. All of these villages are in hot and dry areas of county and they have mountainous and semi-mountainous geographical status with higher altitude compare to other villages. Fifty two villages of county were recognized as at-risk villages for Kala-azar. Kala-azar presented in sporadic condition in Maravetapeh County. Continuous case finding of Kala-azar for early diagnosis and treatment is necessary.

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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.