[Leishmania infections in rodents, reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leismaniasis in turkemen sahara, gonbad, golastan province]

ABSTRACT

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [ZCL] is a tropical diseases caused by Leishmania major, which sandflies are vectors and rodents are reservoirs host. Turkmen Sahara after Isfahan, is the most important endemic disease focus in Iran. Determination of Leishmania Infections in Rodents, Reservoir Hosts of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leismaniasis in Turkemen Sahara, Gonbad, Golastan Province. Rodents were captured by live-capture tarps. Cucumber and sometimes date were used for bating. A part of rodents ears was used to have serousite. Serosite transferred into NNN media, a part of rodents ears was used for sliding and staining for amastigote detection and other parts were used for inoculation to susceptible animal [Balb/c] in suspension form and biopsy was used. 40 rodents were captured, 27 were Rhombomis opimus, 12 were Meriones libycus and one was Meriones persicus. Of 40 rodents captured, 5 were positive in routine laboratory methods which 3 positive were M. libycus, one was R. opimns and one was M. persicus Besides these new findings in R. opimus as well as in M. libycus and M. persicus.These two rodents should be considered as reservoirs of ZCL in region