Open AccessSeroepidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis among humans and animal reservoirs in Bushehr province, Islamic Republic of Iran
Author(s) -
Mehdi Mohebali,
Yazdan Hamzavi,
Edrissian Gh,
A Forouzani
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2001.7.6.912
Subject(s) - visceral leishmaniasis , leishmania infantum , direct agglutination test , medicine , leishmaniasis , veterinary medicine , serology , canine leishmaniasis , islamic republic , southern iran , leishmania , parasitology , immunology , islam , pathology , geography , antibody , literature , archaeology , art , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science
Using direct agglutination tests, a survey of visceral leishmaniasis was carried out among children and adults from 13 villages and from nomadic tribes in Bushehr province during 1998-99. Of the 1496 plasma samples, the overall seropositive rate [titres > or = 1: 3200] was 3.4%. Almost all cases [94.1%] were in children under 10 years old. Eighteen patients were diagnosed with kala azar; fever and splenomegaly were the predominant signs and symptoms. Parasitology and serology examinations of local animals identified dogs and jackals infected with Leishmania infantum. Suggestions for control of visceral leishmaniasis in this area are to eliminate stray dogs, identify cases among humans and suspected leashed dogs, and treat infected individuals.