PubMed · 2007 · 39 citations · 0 references
Veterinary MedicineInfectious DiseasesZoologyParasite EpidemiologyParasitologyZoonotic Disease EpidemiologyMolecular Diagnosis Of ParasitesRodent ParasitologySand Fly BiologySand Fly-borne DiseasesSandfly-borne DiseasesZoonotic Parasitic DiseasesLeishmaniasis Vector BiologySand Fly ParasitologySand Fly TransmissionSand Fly-borne ZoonosesSand Fly-parasite InteractionsTraps
An epidemiological study was made of vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural regions of Marvdasht, Fars province, southern Islamic Republic of Iran during 2003-04. Using live traps, 126 rodents were collected: 75.4% were Meriones libycus, 14.3% Cricetulus migratorius and 10.3% Microtus arvalis. Eight out of 95 Meriones libycus (8.4%) were found to be infected with Leishmania major, identified by nested-PCR; none of the other rodents were positive. Female sandflies were collected from indoor locations: 75% were Phlebotomus papatasi and only 2.7% were found naturally infected with L. major. This is the first report of P. papatasi as a proven vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in this area.