[Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Qom province, Iran, during 2003-2009]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is a parasitological disease that is transmitted by sand flies. This disease is endemic in different areas of Iran. This study was designed to determine the epidemiological aspects of CL in Qom Province during 2003-2009. This was a cross-sectional study. Geographical and epidemiological data of all patients from 2003 to 2009 with clinical and microscopic diagnosis were monitored and followed up, and their medical records were surveyed. Of 1812 patients with leishmaniasis 1047 cases [57.78%] were male and 765 [42.22%] were female. The prevalence rate of disease was 25.8 in 100,000. The most frequent age group was above 15 years old [74.5%]. 50.39 of the patients were living in urban areas and the rest lived in rural areas, especially in central county villages. 52.65% of the patients had no positive history of traveling to leishmaniasis endemic areas during the previous year. 24.5% of the patients had 3 or more lesions. The most common location of lesion was on their hands [49.08%]. Based on our findings, men in working age group are more likely to have the disease; the number of patients without any history of traveling to endemic areas in Iran during the previous year is very considerable; therefore, we can conclude that leishmaniasis is endemic in Qom Province including in central-part villages. So, the high prevalence rate requires further control and prevention measures

[ case report of a rare leishmaniasis patient with more than 29 acute lesions]

Leishmaniasis is one of the parasitic diseases causing a limited number of skin lesions in patients suffering from it; but in some patients a greater number of these lesions are observed which need systemic treatment and active follow -up. The patient is a 56 years old female suffering from lesihmaniasis who lives in Farajabaad village from the central district of Qom province. She referred to Qomrood health center for treatment. This patient had more than 29 lesions in her different organs, while The leishmaniasis patients usually have limited number of wounds [maximum 5 lesions in most cases]

Temperature requirements of some common forensically important blow and flesh flies [diptera] under laboratory conditions

The aim of his study was to determine development time and thermal requirements of three myiasis flies including Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, and Sarcophaga sp. Rate of development [ROD] and accumulated degree day [ADD] of three important forensic flies in Iran, Chrysomya albiceps, Lucilia sericata, and Sarcophaga sp. by rearing individuals under a single constant temperature [28°C] was calculated using specific formula for four developmental events including egg hatching, larval stages, pupation, and eclosion. Rates of development decreased step by step as the flies grew from egg to larvae and then to adult stage; however, this rate was bigger for blowflies [C. albiceps and L. sericata] in comparison with the flesh fly Sarcophaga sp. Egg hatching, larval stages, and pupation took about one fourth and half of the time of the total pre-adult development time for all of the three species. In general, the flesh fly Sarcophaga sp. required more heat for development than the blowflies. The thermal constants [K] were 130-195, 148-222, and 221-323 degree-days [DD] for egg hatching to adult stages of C. albiceps, L. sericata, and Sarcophaga sp., respectively. This is the first report on thermal requirement of three forensic flies in Iran. The data of this study provide preliminary information for forensic entomologist to establish PMI in the area of study