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Background: Anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has long been a significant public health prob-lem in northeastern Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of deltamethrin-impregnated vs. nonimpregnated bed nets (NIBs) and curtains (NICs) in ACL control. Patients: Deltamethrin-impregnated bed nets (IBs) and curtains (ICs) with 25 mg ai/m2 were distributed among 160 households in one district and NIBs and NICs were distributed among the same number of households in another district. A third district with a similar numbers of households served as a control. Health education mes-sages were disseminated to ensure the population′s complicance with the proper use of bed nets and curtains. Sticky paper traps were used to assess the effect of insecticide-impregnated bed nets and curtains on the density of Phlebotomus sergenti. Deltamethrin susceptibility and also bioassay tests were carried out on the species by WHO standard method. Case findings were done by house-to-house visits once a season and all the inhabitants of the selected households in each district were examined. Results: IBs and ICs provided good protection against sandfly bites and reduced the transmission of ACL in the intervention district, while NIBs and NICs provided no protection. There was no significant difference in monthly density of P. sergenti indoors and outdoors among the districts (P>0.05). This species was susceptible to delta-methrin in the field population in the area. Bioassays confirmed that the nets treated with deltamethrin remained effective for more than 3 months. Conclusion: Personal protection is an effective and sustainable means of preventing and controlling ACL and can reduce dependence on insecticides. We encourage the use of IBs and ICs to control ACL in other high-risk areas of Iran and Afghanistan during the active season of sandflies.

Background: Due to the resurgence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniosis (ZCL) in some nonendemic areas of Iran, extensive studies have been conducted on the epidemiology of the disease in different parts of the country in recent years. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of rodent control on the reduction of the incidence of ZCL in an endemic area in Badrood, Iran. Patients and Methods: A survey was carried out in a circle around two villages between April 1997 and January 1999. The control strategy adopted in 1997 consisted of the destruction of the colonies of gerbilline rodents by digging in a radius of 500 m from houses in the intervention area. Opened burrows were baited with zinc phosphide. One village was used as control. Evaluation was made in 1998 and no other control measures were carried out in the area. Case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 1997 and 1998, and all the inhabitants of the selected villages were examined. Results: The average reduction of rodent holes was calculated at 87.4% one year after the first baiting in the intervention area. Changes in the number of rodent holes and the incidence of the disease in the intervention and control villages were statistically significant ( P-value

BACKGROUND : Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a serious and increasing public health problem in many rural areas of Iran. Previous studies showed that rodent control operations are effective in destroying rodents and reducing the incidence of ZCL on a small scale and in special circumstances. The objective of this study was to determine suitable timing for rodent control operations in reducing the incidence of ZCL in an endemic area in Badrood, Iran. METHODS : We conducted rodent control operations by baiting rodent holes using zinc phosphide once a month in May, June, July and September in 1997 within a 500-meter circle of houses in the intervention area. From 1999 to 2002, the numbers of active rodent holes were counted in May and October in the intervention and control areas. When the numbers of rodent holes increased to 30% or more of the number before the first baiting in May 1997, holes in the intervention area were baited again with zinc phosphide in the intervention area; no baiting was done in the control village. Case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 2000 to 2002. RESULTS : Changes in the number of rodent holes over time in the intervention and control villages were statistically significant (P< 0.000001). There were also significant differences in the incidence of ZCL between the intervention and control villages (P< 0.005) during 2000 to 2002. The incidence of ZCL was unchanged in the years 2000 and 2001, but increased in one village in 2002 after an increase in the number of rodent holes. CONCLUSION : We suggest that rodent control operations using zinc phosphide be done within a 500-meter circle of houses once every two years before the beginning of the active season of sandflies, which begins in late April.