Epidemiological Survey of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica in a New Focus in Khorasan Razavi Province

Background and

Recently، a high rate of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been reported in Torbat-e-Jam a town in Khorasan Razavi province، Iran. The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological aspects of CL in this district.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in patients referring to health centers of Torbat-e-Jam، during 2009-2011. Diagnosis of CL was made by direct smear and staining was done through Giemsa. Also، specific PCR method was performed for detection of the species of Leishmania spp.

Totally 855 individuals were investigated of whom 504 (58. 9%) were found positive through direct smears. Among the subjects 291 (57. 7%) were male and 213 (42. 3%) were female. The majority (40. 5%) of the positive cases were observed in 2011. The most highly infected cases were aged 5-10 years (22. 3%) and the least rate was seen amongst those aged >40 years of age (2. 6%). Also، Leishmania spp isolated from patients were Leishmania tropica by species specific PCR.

According to the increasing trend of CL، it is believed that a new endemic focus of Anthroponotic CL (ACL) is gradually developing in Torbat-e-Jam. Humans are the main reservoir of ACL، therefore، early diagnosis and treatment among them are of great importance.