[Study of the epidemiological status of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever disease in Qom province, 2011, Iran]

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] is an acute viral febrile hemorrhagic disease that is common between human and animal. This study was performed with the aim of determining epidemiological status of CCHF in Qom province. This descriptive study was done on patients with clinical signs or with an epidemiological history of CCHF, who were referred to hospitals, health centers, and private clinics during 2011. Then, based on guideline of the National Technical Committee of the Ministry of Health, patients were classified into three groups of suspected, probable and confirmed. The data were analyzed by frequency table, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. p<0.05 considered as significant. Twelve out of 38 patients, after diagnosis were placed in the suspected to CCHF group, went under follow-up and treatment. Among them, 5 cases [41.67%] were confirmed, 2 cases [16.67%] were probable, and 5 cases [41.67%] were suspected [only had some symptoms]. The majority of patients were male [91.76%] with the age range of 15-30 [83.34%], and resident in urban areas [75%]. 58.34% of the whole patients were farmers, students, or butchers. 83.34% of patients reported a history of contact with animals, and the mortality rate of confirmed cases was 20%. According to the results of this study, training of people at risk, and doing safety measures, such as keeping fresh meat in the refrigerator for 24 hours and using gloves while household cleaning fresh meat are necessary

[Determination of reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis by PCR molecular method in the villages of central county of Qom province]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health problem in many parts of Iran and its main foci are in various parts of the country. This study was carried out with the intention of examining the species composition of the possible disease reservoirs in the cutaneous leishmaniasis focus in the selected villages of central county of Qom province. Study was done as a descriptive, cross-sectional study on rodents [possible leishmaniasis reservoirs] in the selected rural areas of Qomrood and Ghanavat located in central parts of Qom province in 2010. In this research, a total of 46 small rodents were hunted by live traps from 5 selected villages. A Smear prepared from auricle or suspicious lesions on skin, and after Giemsa staining, the smears were examined for the presence of leishman's bodies. After extracting DNA from positive smears, PCR technique was exploited to determine the parasite species. A total 46 small mammals were hunted and identified by the authentic keys. They included 31 rodents [67.4%] were Meriones libycus, 8 [17.4%] Allactaga elater, 4 [8.7%] Mus musculus, 2 [4.3%] Nesokia indica and one [2.7%] Hemiechinus auritus. The results of PCR demonstrated that 3.7% of M. libycus rodents were infected by Leishmania major. The results of this study showed that epidemic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the central county of Qom province was zoonotic and its reservoir was species of rodents. Therefore, determining disease type and its reservoir can help health care authorities to adopt appropriate strategies for prevention and control of the disease in this area