Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in imposed war [Iraq against I.R.of Iran] during 1980-1988

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis caused by a parasite called Leishmania. Leishmaniasis is a main vector borne disease in the world and it can be transmitted to human by bite of sandflies. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis was a major infectious disease during imposed war among combatants who were exposed because of their activity in the endemic areas located in south west of Iran. Military troops are very susceptible to get the infection as a result of their activity in the endemic areas, therefore the Integrated Health measures are needed to prevent the problem. The aim of this descriptive study was to assess the situation of the disease during imposed war. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in order to find out the situation of the disease by using available data from 1980 to 1988.The data was analysed using SPSS Version 11.5. In addition, the result was compared with other National Health Organizations. Based on these research findings, it should be noted that cutaneaous leishmaniasis was very common among conbataouts in Kozestan, the province with the highest prevalence [35275 cases]. However, the west Azarbijan province in North west of Iran had low prevalence of infection [142 cases]. Nevertheless, the disease has never been reported in Ardebil [North west of Iran] and Ghom [in the central of Iran] during imposed war. The results of this study indicated that cutaneous Leishmaniasis was a major problem of combatant during imposed war, and its definitive control was ineffective and insufficient; therefore, the new control methods including Standard Leishmanization are needed to prevent the disease

Effect of garlic extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis and the role of nitric oxide

The production of nitric oxide [NO] is important in the final outcome of leishmaniasis in animal models. The efficacy of garlic therapy and a combination of garlic and vitamin A were compared with an antimonial drug [glucantime] to assess healing and regulation of NO release in mice infected with Leishmania major. The mice were subjected to 3 105 promastigotes and allowed to induce a lesion. The mice were treated with above compounds twice a day for 45 days. The diameter of the lesion was measured on days 1, 10, 20, 30 and 45. In a separate experiment, NO release by peritoneal macrophages was measured. The diameter of lesion was reduced by aqueous extract of garlic within 30 days of treatment. However, the maximum reduction was induced when mice were subjected to vitamin A for 10 days before the administration of the aqueous extract for 30 days. A significant correlation between healing and the amount of NO release was also found. A combination of aqueous extract of garlic and vitamin A can treat leishmanisis