Habitat modeling of Meriones persicus species as a reservoir of leishmaniasis in Iran

 Rodents are the largest order of mammals, with a large population on the earth, the source of many economic losses and health problems. Rodents are the reservoirs of some zoonotic diseases. Among these diseases, we can mention leishmaniasis. This study aimed to model the habitat suitability of Iranian Jird as a reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran.

For this purpose, 17 habitat variables including two topographic variables, seven climatic variables, and eight land use/land cover variables as habitat variables along with species presence points were used in MaxEnt modeling. Species distribution models are useful tools in identifying the areas for the presence of wildlife species and therefore are of great importance in species conservation and habitat management. Among these species distribution models, we can mention the MaxEnt model.

According to the results of MaxEnt modeling, the suitable habitats of Iranian Jird species cover an area of 430,900 square kilometers, accounting for 30% of Iran. Also, three geological variables, distance from the road, and land use were identified as effective variables in the habitat suitability modeling of this species of rural leishmaniasis reservoir. Another result of this study was the preparation of the habitat suitability map of Iranian Jird in both continuous and categorical forms, which showed the highest distribution in Golestan, North Khorasan, and Mazandaran provinces.

Finally, according to the results of this modeling and the effect of biological and anthropological variables as effective variables in the habitat suitability modeling of this reservoir and the possible psychological and economic effects of leishmaniasis and lack of effective vaccines and the presence of rodents in the pathogenic cycle, the identification of reservoirs and their suitable habitats are necessary for better management of this disease.