Evaluation of the 11-Year Trend of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Six Main Foci of the Disease in Isfahan Province during the Years 2008 to 2018

Leishmaniasis is one of the endemic diseases in Iran and Isfahan province. This study was conducted to investigate the trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis in 6 main centers of Isfahan province during the years 2007 to 2018.

This research is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study that was conducted based on the data available in the Zoonosis Diseases Unit located in the Isfahan Health Vice-Chancellor. The data related to the new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis that were reported by the detection laboratories as well as the data related to the control measures and the fight against the reservoir were collected. The trend of disease incidence was analyzed separately by foci, year and the relationship between disease incidence and control measures.

The results showed that during this 11-year period, the incidence of leishmaniasis is decreasing, but some centers, such as the number 1 Isfahan region, have had severe fluctuations in some years. The relationship between the average incidence of the disease and the total number of poisons consumed using the Pearson Correlation statistical test was linear and significant. In other words, in the centers where the highest amount of poison has been consumed, the incidence rate of leishmaniasis is also reported to be higher.

Considering the fluctuations of the disease in some years, and the number 1 Isfahan region has the highest rate of incidence despite the highest amount of poisons consumed compared to the Shahin-shahr region, the effectiveness of this type of intervention in the long term is doubtful.