Serological survey of Leishmania infantum in wild rodents of Turkemen Sahra, Golestan province, North-East Iran

Abstract

<em>Leishmania infantum</em>, an etiologic agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is spreading in Iran. Dogs are the main reservoirs but <em>L.infantum</em> has been detected in jackals, foxes and wild rodents too. Despite high number of rodents in the world, the exact role of them in epidemiology of VL is not clear. In recent years the number of sporadic cases of dogs and humans VL has been increased in arid and semi-arid areas of Golestan province. The aim of this study was to detect <em>L.infantum </em>antibodyin wild rodents of Turkemen Sahra district of Golestan province. 75 rodents were randomly trapped from 8 areas and after identification of the genus and species, blood was collected by cardiac puncture. Indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was performed on serum samples of captured rodents. % 8 of serum samples which belonged to <em>Mus musculus </em>population were positive. Results of current study highlight the possible role of wild rodents in the spreading of <em>L.infantum</em> in ecosystem. More epidemiological and molecular study is recommended to imagine the exact role of wild rodents in life cycle of <em>L.infuntum </em>in Golestan province<em>.</em>