Meriones Iibycus and Rhombomys opimus (Rodentia: Gerbillidae) are the main reservoir hosts in a new focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Following an epidemic of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) around Badrood city, central Iran, Meriones libycus were found to be naturally infected with Leishmania major zymodeme MON-26 (= LON-1) in the villages of Matinabad and Fami, 12 km north-west of Badrood. This is the first isolation and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1996-09, Vol.90 (5), p.503-504
Main Authors: Yaghoobi-Ershadi, M.R., Akhavan, A.A., Mohebali, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Iran
Leishmania major
leishmaniasis
reservoir hosts
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Summary:Following an epidemic of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) around Badrood city, central Iran, Meriones libycus were found to be naturally infected with Leishmania major zymodeme MON-26 (= LON-1) in the villages of Matinabad and Fami, 12 km north-west of Badrood. This is the first isolation and characterization of L. major from M. libycus in Iran, in an area where ZCL has been present recently. M. libycus is probably the principal reservoir host in this area, but the main reservoir host further east is Rhombomys opimus. Parasites were not found in Hemiechinus auritis. The main, proven vector to humans and gerbils is Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi. The close contact between vectors and reservoirs creates a very efficient cycle for the transmission of the disease.
ISSN:0035-9203
1878-3503
DOI:10.1016/S0035-9203(96)90295-3