Seroepidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis in Booyerahmad district, south-west Islamic Republic of Iran

ABSTRACT

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 > 13200]. 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