Epidemiological Characteristics and Endemicity of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Iran

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic infectious disease in the tropics and subtropics. This disease is endemic in parts of Qom province in central Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological characteristics and endemicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Qom province.

In a cross-sectional study, out of 45 villages located in endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis in central and Kahak districts of Qom province, 8 villages were randomly selected. At the end of each seasons, each household was visited and demographic information, infection or history of getting leishmaniasis among people living in these households were recorded in the standard forms.

Out of 4228 people living in 8 endemic leishmaniasis villages in Qom province, 1920 (45.41%) had scars and a history of getting disease. 165 new cases with active lesions were reported. The incidence of the disease in the studied population was 71.49 per 1000 persons. In the present study, 13.33% of patients were under 7 years old and 67.87% were patients over 15 years old. With this description, the study areas were generally classified as hypoendemic areas.

Due to the fact that the condition of the disease in the study areas is hypoendemic. Therefore, personal protection methods against sandfly bites such as the use of mosquito nets, especially mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides, using the nets for doors and windows in residential areas and the use of insect repellent compounds to control the disease in these areas are recommended.