Phlebotomus papatasi andMeriones libycus as the vector and reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis inQomroodDistrict,Qom Province, central Iran

Objective:To determine the sand flies species responsible for most transmission ofLeishmania major (L. major) to human, as well as to determine the main reservoir hosts of the disease. Methods: Sand flies were collected using sticky papers and mounted in Puri's medium for species identification. Rodents were trapped by live Sherman traps. Both sand flies and rodents were subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasite.Results:Phlebotomus papatasi (P. papatasi) was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places. Employing PCR technique only three specimens of150P. papatasi(2%) were found naturally infected by parasites with a band of350bp which is equal to theL. majorparasite. Forty six rodents were captured by Sherman traps and identified. Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed1 (3.22%) infectedMeriones libycus (M. libycus). Infection of this animal toL. major was confirmed byPCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. Conclusions: This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector(P. papatasi) and reservoir(M. libycus) toL. major in the region. The results indicated thatP. papatasiwas the primary vector of the disease and circulating the parasite between human and reservoirs andM. libycus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.