Epidemiology incidence and geographical distribution of leptospirosis using GIS and its incidence prediction in Iran in 2021.

Background: Leptospirosis is known as a public health problem in developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and geographical distribution of leptospirosis using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and to predict its incidence in Iran in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study. Information on leptospirosis was obtained from the Center for Communicable Diseases Control during 2009-2015. In the next step, The ArcGIS 9.3 was used to prepare geographic maps of the disease incidence and frequency. Therefore, using the Raster Calculator tool, the disease prediction map was drawn. Results: The results showed that the highest incidence of leptospirosis during 2009-2015 was observed in Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces, respectively. The incidence of the disease had an increasing trend from 2013 to 2015. Based on the results of the modeling in Iran, the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, with 72.18%, 8.54%, and 4.95% of their area, respectively, have the largest areas at a high-risk for leptospirosis in the coming years. Conclusion: The prevalence of leptospirosis is affected by geographical and climatic conditions of every region; thus, the incidence of the disease is higher in the provinces located at the Caspian coastal side and in some regions in Semnan province. Hence, if health authorities pay more attention to developing health plans to prevent the disease, the risk of disease in these areas will be reduced in the future.

INVESTIGATION OF BACTERIOLOGICAL INFECTIONS OF THE AMERICAN COCKROACHES IN PAVEH CITY, KERMANSHAH PROVINCE.

INTRODUCTION: American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, are the most important pests in hospitals and dwelling environments. They are mechanical vectors of some bacterial pathogens. GOAL: The present investigation was carried out in Ghods hospital and 5 dwelling localities of Paveh city to evaluate bacterial infestations of American cockroaches in this region of Iran. METHODS: The samples were randomly collected from hospital environments and toilets and kitchens of the dwelling localities from December-March 2012 and July-September 2013. The samples were captured using sterile test tubes and sterile hand gloves. RESULTS: Totally, 98 cockroaches were collected from hospital (45.9%) and dwelling (54.1%) environments. Eight groups of bacteria including: Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Serratia spp., Entrobacter spp. and Escherichia coli were extracted. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study revealed that the American cockroaches are very important in transmission of some bacterial pathogens, so health education and using the effective control methods to elimination and reduction of cockroaches are necessary.