Epidemiological Study on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Area, of Qom Province, Central Iran.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most important health problems in many areas of Iran. There are two forms of the disease in Iran, anthroponotic and zoonotic CL. This study conducted to assess the epidemiological situation of CL in an endemic area of Qom Province, central Iran from Apr to Nov 2015.

Methods: The sticky paper traps and aspirating tubes were used for collecting adult sand flies. Sherman traps and small insect nets were used to capture rodents and small mammals. Giemsa staining was used for preparing the expanded smear and followed by PCR for identifying the causative agent in human, vectors, and reservoirs. In this study, relative frequency of CL was also calculated.

Results: Fourteen species of Phlebotomine sand flies were collected. (61.74%) was the predominant species through the period of activity. Overall, 62 , 8 , 4 , 16 and 2 were caught. PCR technique showed 6 out of 150 (2%), two out of 62 (3.23%) and all of suspected human's skin tissue samples (100%) were infected with . The relative frequency of CL was 0.30%.

Conclusion: This is the first detection of within , and human in Kahak District in Qom Province of Iran. Zoonotic cycle of CL exists in this area, is the causative agent, is the main vector and is the main reservoir of the disease.