The Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Reservoirs in Northern Baraan Region of Isfahan, Iran

Repeated referring of patients from North Baraan region especially from two villages (Timiart and Fesaran(to the Isfahan Research Center of Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis and the Isfahan Province Health Center (Iran) and also repeated writings of level unities to the Disease Control Unit of Health Center No، 1 of this area about the increasing number of rodents in the villages was showing that leismaniasis has an epidemiologic condition in this area. There was no study about the genus and species of reservoir rodents in the region. So، in this study we aimed to study the funa of region rodents and the rate of their involvement by leishmaniasis.

This cross-sectional study was performed on local hunted rodents with Sherman live-traps. Their genus and species were identified using special key references. Samples were taken from animals’ ears، beaks، paws، noses and tails by grinding method for both direct smear and culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium. Then، they were dissected and two direct smears from the liver and spleen of each one were prepared. The slides underwent direct microscopic exam after Giemsa staining to detect amastigote form of parasites.

Among the total of 53 rodents، Rhombomys opimus comprised 38 (71. 7%) and the remaining 15 (28. 3%) were Meriones libycus. The rate of infection of Rhombomys opimus was (18. 4%) and of Meriones libycus was (13. 3%).

The results suggested that Rhombomys opimus was the principal reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis and Meriones libycus was the second host in this area.