Mahmoodreza Behravan
1, Homa Hajjaran
2, Alireza Abadi
3, Ali Haghighi
1, Nourina Rahbarian
4, Amin Amini
5, Mohammad Hosein Hoobar
5, Masumeh Khajeh- Farokhi
5, Vahideh Moin-Vaziri
1*1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Social Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
5 Health Center of Varamin, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important diseases in Iran, with high prevalence in some part of country including, Tehran province. This study was aimed to investigate the cutaneous lesions of patients studies was also referred to different laboratory of Health center of Varamin (a city in Tehran province), sand flies species in selected area. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study demographic data was collected by special questionnaire. Smears of suspected patients to stained and examined by microscope. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps, CDC light traps and aspirators, female specimens were mounted and identified by diagnostic keys at species level. Results: Leishmania parasites were observed in 56.82% of cases. Disease was more common among male (64%). The majority of patients (30%) aged between 25-39 year old. Most lesions (50%) observed in hands and legs of patients, 76% of affected people had just one lesion. Half of them had a history of travel to endemic areas. More than 2500 sand flies captured during this study; among them 1100 female specimens were mounted and identified. The prevalent spicies was Sergentomyia spp (65/9%), the second was. papatasi (33/20%). It should be mentioned that Ph. sergenti, Ph. alexandri and Ph. caucasicus group also were identified in lower percentage. Conclusion: According to current results and the status of the studied region including it seems that (Agricultural activities, animal husbandry and migration), cutaneous leishmaniasis could be a health threatening problem.