ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis has a long history in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study aimed to show the trend in leishmaniasis incidence from 1983 to 2012 and to describe the epidemiological characteristics in 2012. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, data were extracted from th%e national leishmaniasis surveillance system for the 3 clinical types-cutaneous (zoonotic and anthroponotic) and visceral (zoonotic). The average annual number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases was 18 884 (average annual incidence 32 cases per 100 000 inhabitants). In 2012 the highest incidences were in age groups 1-4 and 5-9-years (43 and 40 per 100 000), and more males (57%) than females (43%) were infected. The annual average number of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis cases was 175 (average annual incidence 0.18 per 100 000). The incidences of cutaneous and zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis have decreased in recent years, which coincides with national leishmaniasis control efforts.
Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Iran/epidemiology , MaleABSTRACT
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), a vector-borne disease, poses serious psychological as well as social and economic burden to many rural areas of Iran. The main objectives of this study were to analyse yearly spatial distribution and the possible spatial and spatio-temporal clusters of the disease to better understand spatio-temporal epidemiological aspects of ZCL in rural areas of an endemic province, located in north-east of Iran. Cross-sectional survey was performed on 2983 recorded cases during the period of 2010-2012 at village level throughout the study area. Global clustering methods including the average nearest-neighbour distance, Moran's I, general G indices and Ripley's K-function were applied to investigate the annual spatial distribution of the existing point patterns. Presence of spatial and spatio-temporal clusters was investigated using the spatial and space-time scan statistics. For each year, semivariogram analysis and all global clustering methods indicated meaningful persistent spatial autocorrelation and highly clustered distribution of ZCL, respectively. Eight significant spatial clusters, mainly located in north and northeast of the province, and one space-time cluster, observed in northern part of the province and during the period of September 2010-November 2010, were detected. Comparison of the location of ZCL clusters with environmental conditions of the study area showed that 97.8% of cases in clusters were located at low altitudes below 725 m above sea level with predominantly arid and semi-arid climates and poor socio-economic conditions. The identified clusters highlight high-risk areas requiring special plans and resources for more close monitoring and control of the disease.
Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Climate , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Geographic Information Systems , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Iran/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Sex Distribution , Socioeconomic Factors , Spatio-Temporal Analysis , Young Adult , Zoonoses/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: ZCL is a growing threat in many rural areas of Iran which involves 17 out of 31 provinces. This study was conducted from April to November 2011 for evaluation of the efficacy of phostoxin and zinc phosphide against rodents. METHODS: Rodent control operations were carried out using phostoxin and zinc phosphide. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the main vector density, an entomological survey was carried out. The effects of the operation on the disease incidence were also evaluated. RESULTS: After intervention, the reduction rate of rodent burrows was 32.68% in the village treated with phostoxin and 58.14% in the village treated with zinc phosphide. The number of rodent holes in the control area showed 6.66-fold increase at the end of the study. The incidence of the disease decreased to 19.23 and 11.40 in areas treated with phostoxin and zinc phosphide, respectively. A total of 4243 adult sandflies were collected and identified. The most common and dominant species was Phlebotomus papatasi. In the village treated with phostoxin, the density of P. papatasi in outdoors was lower than indoors. Nevertheless, the density of P. papatasi in the village treated with zinc phosphide was higher in outdoors. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: It is concluded that phostoxin is less effective and has low safety in comparison with zinc phosphide, so that this rodenticide can be used only in special situations such as lack or ineffective rodenticides and only in the colonies far from human and animal dwelling places in small scales.
Subject(s)
Aluminum Compounds/administration & dosage , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/prevention & control , Pest Control/methods , Pesticides , Phosphines/administration & dosage , Zinc Compounds/administration & dosage , Animals , Humans , Incidence , Iran/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Phlebotomus/growth & developmentABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in parts of Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was carried out in children in Booyerahmad district in the south-west of the country. Serum samples were taken from 1628 children up to 10 years old from different areas in Booyerahmad in 2005-06. AntiLeishmania antibody was detected in 50 out of 1628 children (3.1%) by direct agglutination test (antibody titre > or = 1:3200). There was no significant difference in seropositivity between the sexes (2.8% males and 3.3% females). The highest rate of infection (5.2%) was in the age group 10 years. Further studies are needed to explore the reservoirs and vectors of the disease in this region.
Subject(s)
Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Age Distribution , Animals , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Disease Reservoirs , Disease Vectors , Dogs , Female , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/blood , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/etiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/veterinary , Male , Population Surveillance , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was set up for children aged < or = 12 years in the primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr district of Ardebil province, north-western Islamic Republic of Iran. All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and positive by the direct agglutination test were referred for physical examination and treatment. The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88 before (1985-2000) to 0.77 per 1000 child population after the intervention (2001-07). In a control area with no surveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000. Early detection of VL using practical serological tests and timely treatment of cases could decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas.
Subject(s)
Child Health Services/organization & administration , Leishmaniasis, Visceral , Population Surveillance/methods , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Agglutination Tests , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Disease Notification/methods , Endemic Diseases/prevention & control , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Incidence , Iran/epidemiology , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/drug therapy , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Longitudinal Studies , Mass Screening/organization & administration , Program EvaluationABSTRACT
Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is endemic in parts of Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was carried out in children in Booyerahmad district in the south-west of the country. Serum samples were taken from 1628 children up to 10 years old from different areas in Booyerahmad in 2005-06. Anti-Leishmania antibody was detected in 50 out of 1628 children [3.1%] by direct agglutination test [antibody titre > 1:3200]. There was no significant difference in seropositivity between the sexes [2.8% males and 3.3% females]. The highest rate of infection [5.2%] was in the age group 10 years. Further studies are needed to explore the reservoirs and vectors of the disease in this region
Subject(s)
Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Leishmaniasis, VisceralABSTRACT
In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was set up for children aged ≤ 12 years inthe primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr district of Ardebil province, north-western Islamic Republic ofIran. All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and positive by the direct agglutination test were referredfor physical examination and treatment. The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88before (1985–2000) to 0.77 per 1000 child population after the intervention (2001–07). In a control area with nosurveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000. Early detection of VL using practical serological tests andtimely treatment of cases could decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas
En 2001, un système de surveillance de la leishmaniose viscérale a été mis en place pour les enfants âgésde 0 à 12 ans dans le système de santé primaire du district de Meshkin-Shahr, province d’Ardebil, nord-ouest dela République islamique d’Iran. Tous les cas présentant des signes cliniques et des symptômes de leishmanioseviscérale ainsi qu’une réaction positive au test d’agglutination directe étaient orientés en vue d’un examen physiqueet d’un traitement. L’incidence annuelle moyenne de la leishmaniose viscérale a nettement diminué, passant de1,88 avant l’intervention (1985-2000) à 0,77 pour 1 000 enfants après l’intervention (2001-2006). Elle a augmentédans une zone témoin sans surveillance, passant de 0,11 à 0,23 pour 1 000 enfants. Un dépistage précoce dela leishmaniose viscérale à l’aide de tests sérologiques pratiques et une prise en charge rapide des cas permettraientde réduire les taux de mortalité et de morbidité de la leishmaniose viscérale dans les zones endémiques
Subject(s)
Population Surveillance , Incidence , Leishmaniasis, Visceral , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic disease with a high mortality rate in humans. The CCHF virus (CCHFV) is transmitted to humans through the bite of Ixodid ticks or by contact with blood or tissues of infected livestock. In addition to zoonotic transmission, CCHFV can be spread from person to person and is one of the rare haemorrhagic fever viruses able to cause nosocomial outbreaks in hospitals. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a public health problem in many regions of the world such as Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In addition to clinical symptoms, the diagnosis of CCHF is based on the use of serological tests for the detection of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies and on the use of molecular tools such as RT-PCR. From 1970 to 1978, serological and epidemiological studies were performed in humans and in livestock of Iran. After two decades and observations of CCHF in some provinces of Iran, a CCHF surveillance and detection system was established in 1999, leading to a dramatically decreased mortality rate from 20% (year 2000) to 2% (year 2007).
Subject(s)
Arachnid Vectors/virology , Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo/isolation & purification , Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/diagnosis , Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/epidemiology , Ticks/virology , Animals , Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/mortality , Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean/transmission , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sentinel Surveillance , Serologic TestsABSTRACT
We determined the knowledge and practice of private sector physicians in three cites regarding management of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and their determinants. A random sample questionnaire survey was conducted of 732 private physicians. Stratified analysis and logistic regression were used to identify the adjusted determinants of the two outcomes. A high proportion of the doctors had correct knowledge about the major diagnostic criteria but there was a low level of knowledge and practice of TB management. Significant risk factors for poor knowledge were age > or = 36 years, being a GP rather than a specialist and no attendance in TB training courses or attendance in courses held by institutions other than the public health system. Age > or = 36 years was the only significant risk factor for poor practice.
Subject(s)
Guideline Adherence/standards , Medicine , Physicians, Family , Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/standards , Private Sector/standards , Specialization , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary , Adult , Age Factors , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Attitude of Health Personnel , Clinical Competence/standards , Cross-Sectional Studies , Directly Observed Therapy/standards , Education, Medical , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Services Research , Humans , Iran , Logistic Models , Medicine/organization & administration , Needs Assessment , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Physicians, Family/education , Physicians, Family/organization & administration , Physicians, Family/psychology , Quality Indicators, Health Care/standards , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapyABSTRACT
We determined the knowledge and practice of private sector physicians in three cites regarding management of pulmonary tuberculosis [TB] and their determinants. A random sample questionnaire survey was conducted of 732 private physicians. Stratified analysis and logistic regression were used to identify the adjusted determinants of the two outcomes. A high proportion of the doctors had correct knowledge about the major diagnostic criteria but there was a low level of knowledge and practice of TB management. Significant risk factors for poor knowledge were age > / = 36 years, being a GP rather than a specialist and no attendance in TB training courses or attendance in courses held by institutions other than the public health system. Age > / = 36 years was the only significant risk factor for poor practice
