[Kala-azar in Maraveh Tapeh county, Golestan Provice, Iran: seven case reports]

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as Kala-azar, is one of the main parasitic vector borne diseases, which transmitted by sand fly. The current study reported the seven positive cases of Kala-azar in Maravetapeh county in Golestan province, Iran from 2007-15. Using geographic information system, villages which had confirmed cases of Kala-azar were identified and their geographical information was registered. Villages with confirmed cases of Kala-azar were introduced as at risk villages for visceral leishmaniasis. All of these cases were aged under 6 years and in all of them fever and splenomegaly was reported. All subjects had lower normal range of hemoglobin and plateles. These cases were reported from 6 villages in 3 districts of Maraveh Tapeh County. All of these villages are in hot and dry areas of county and they have mountainous and semi-mountainous geographical status with higher altitude compare to other villages. Fifty two villages of county were recognized as at-risk villages for Kala-azar. Kala-azar presented in sporadic condition in Maravetapeh County. Continuous case finding of Kala-azar for early diagnosis and treatment is necessary

Neonatal mortality risk factors in Maraveh Tapeh County in Golestan province, north of Iran (2011-13)

Background and Objective: Neonatal mortality rate is one of the most important health criteria, worldwide. Understanding the major neonatal mortality causes will help to plan for better pregnancy, prenatal and neonatal care systems. This study was conducted to determine the neonatal mortality risk factors in Maraveh Tapeh County in Golestan province, north of Iran

Methods: In this case-control study, according to either death or live in 28th day after birth, 52 neonates were considered as case group and 201 neonates were considered as control group. Data collection questionnair were adjusted and completed for each neonate

Results: Neonatal mortality rate was 11.76, 13.36 and 6.46 per 1000 live birth in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Five main causes of death were prematurity, events, birth defect, respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis, respectively. There was a significant relation between death and prematurity, birth weight and gender [P<0.05]. There was relationship between birth weight and neonatal mortality [OddsRatio=29.6]

Conclusion: Prematurity and low birth weight were the most important causes of neonatal mortality in Maraveh Tapeh county in Golestan province, north of Iran

Ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, Iran [2011]

Leishmaniasis is one of the main Zoonotic Vector-Born disease which is transmitted by sand flies to human and animals. This study was carried out to determine the ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, North of Iran. In this descriptive study, 3 villages in Aliabad Katul district in north of Iran were selected according to rural geography distribution and positive detected samples of human infection during 2010-02. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps. Three places were sampled in each village and in indoor and outdoor places 10 traps were installed. Sand flies were collected and their species was determined. Totally 299 sand flies [160 from indoors and 139 from outdoors] were collected and consequently, 7 species of sandflies were identified including 4 species of phlebotomus genus and 3 species of Sergentomiya genus Ph.papatasi [55%] and S.sintoni [51%] were predominant species in indoor resting places and outdoor places, respectively. Sand flies seasonal activity extended from mid May through early October. Sand flies had one peak of activity in early August. Among the detected species, S.hodgsoni reported for first time from Golestan province. Ph.papatasi was recognized as predominant species in Aliabad Katul district, Golestan provincein northern Iran

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Gonbad Kavoos, North of Iran [2009-11]: an epidemiological study

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the zoonosis disease which is transmitted by sand fly and has been considered as one of the most important health problems in Iran. This study was designed to assess the status of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Gonbad Kavoos, North of Iran. This descriptive-analytical retrospective study was performed on the two groups consist of: 1799 patients [995 men and 804 women] referred to health centers of Gonbad Kavoos in Golestan Province North of Iran during 2009-11. Also 278 men and 271 women were selected randomly in one of the villages for the assessment of acute and scar wounds. Patient's characteristics such as age, sex, habitat, number and sites of ulcer [s], month and years of incidence were registered. Data were analyzed using SPSS-13 and Chi-Square test. From 1799 under care patients, 995 cases [55.3%] were males and 804 cases [44.7%] were females [P<0.05]. 1542 patients [85.7%] resided in rural areas, while 257 [14.3%] lived in urban areas [P<0.05]. The most frequent age group was 0-9 years old [43.3%] [P<0.05]. Hands were the most common sites of ulcer [42.3%] and 37.9% of the patients with one ulser. The highest prevalency of disease was observed in months of October and November [68.4%] 4% and 78.6% of subjects selected from villages were presented with acute wound and scar, respectively. This study showed that Cutaneous leishmaniasis in 2010-11 was dispersed in Gonbad-Kavoos a city in North of Iran. The endemicity situation of this disease in this area is hypoendemic

Molecular detection of leishmania major in the vectors and reservoir hosts of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kakaleh district, Golestan province, Iran

An epidemiological study was carried out on the vector[s] and reservoir[s] of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural areas of Kalaleh District, Golestan Province during 2006 - 2007. Totally 4900 sand flies were collected using sticky papers and were subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasite. Phlebotomus papatasi was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places. Employing PCR technique showed only 1 out of 372 P. papatasi [0.3%] was positive to parasite due Leishmania major. Sixteen rodent reservoir hosts were captured by Sherman traps and identified as Rhombomys opimus. Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed 6[37.5%] infected rodents. Infection of these animals to L. major was then confirmed by PCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector [P. papatas] and reservoir [R. opimus] to L. major. The results indicated that P. papatas was the primary vector of the disease and circulating the parasite between human and reservoirs, and R. opimus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area