Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and aim: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in Iran and many other countries. The use of pentavalent antimony compounds for the treatment of this disease is associated with serious side effects. There have been reports of the effect of the extract of Berberis vulgaris root on leishmania major, both in vitro and in vivo. The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of an alcoholic extract of this plant on experimental L. major ulcers in BALB/c mice. The experiment was conducted in 2006 by the Department of Parasitology, Kashan University of Medical sciences.

Materials and Methods: We used different concentrations of an alcoholic extract of Berberis vulgaris in the form of an ointment. Ninety BALB/c mice received a subcutaneous inoculation of 0.1 ml liquid-phase culture of infective L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER standard variety) in the base of their tail. Ulcers appeared after 30-35 days and these were divided into 5 groups: 3 groups received treatment with 20%, 40%, and 80% concentrations and the remaining 2 groups served as controls. The extract was used applied topically, three times a day for 30 days. Each weak we measured the diameter of the lesions and the animals' weight. After preparation and staining, we determined the number of parasites in lesions through microscopic examinations. Results were recorded on paper and analyzed with the use of Student's t and Fisher's exact tests as well as analysis of variance and Tokey's post-hoc tests.

Results: With the 20% preparation: By the end of the treatment period, the mean diameter of the lesions had decreased, with complete healing in 5 mice (27.7%), (p< 0.001). By the time of the decrease in diameter, the mean weight of the animals had increased and the number of parasites in the lesions had declined (80%). Total elimination of the parasites was observed in 12 animals (p<0.001).
At a concentration of 40%: Mean ulcer diameter decreased, with complete healing in 2 mice (11.1%, p<0.001). By the time of the decrease in diameter, the mean weight of the mice had increased (p<0.05). The mean number of parasites in lesions decreased (64.3%), with total elimination in 9 animals (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: We showed that the extract of Berberis vulgaris is most effective at a concentration of 20%, causing greater reductions in both ulcer diameter and the number of parasites in the lesions compared to other preparations. Therefore, we suggest the use of a 20% extract for the treatment of human cases.

Background and Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between educational practice of volunteer health workers (VHWs) and preventive behavior of households (HH) under their coverage regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) based on the BASNEF model in Yazd City, Iran

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the 60 VHWs in the CL-endemic regions in Yazd City were interviewed and completed a valid and reliable questionnaire designed by the investigator. In addition, from among the households under coverage of each one of the VHWs, 2 HHs were selected randomly and their heads were interviewed and completed the relevant questionnaire (total n=120). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: There was a positive correlation between the knowledge and attitude of VHWs and knowledge of the households, as well as between the VHWs' behavioral intention and households' behavior. Further analysis of the data also revealed a positive correlation between the enabling factors of VHWs and the knowledge, behavioral intention, enabling factors and behaviors of families, as well as between educational behavior of VHWs and knowledge, attitude and behavior of the families.

Conclusion: Volunteer health workers can potentially play an important role in case-finding, prevention and timely treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, merely promoting their awareness of the disease will not lead to improvements in their educational behavior in the community. More effective education aiming at promoting their awareness and enabling factors, as well as developing better attitude in them, will certainly result in better behavior of households and control of the disease

Background and Aim: Considering the importance of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran, this study was conducted to present the epidemiological characteristics of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, the time trend and the mapping of the disease in the cities under the supervision of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: Data was collected from the Heath deputy of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Centers of cities from 2005 to 2014; and was analyzed using Excel and SPSS19 software. Chi square test and Poisson regression were used for analysis.

Results: The incidence of the disease increased from 109 cases per 100,000 in 2005 to 218 in 2008 and decreased to 110 in 2014. The 0-9 age group was the most vulnerable and housewives were the most involved occupational group. Most people had a wet wound. The hands were the most affected. The highest incidence of disease was in the autumn. Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) was the dominant type. Cutaneous leishmaniasis was more in northern than southern regions of the province in the recent years.

Conclusion: In the last years of the study, unlike in the early years, the incidence of disease in the northern region of the province was more than the southern regions. This finding could be a warning signal that the disease could be relocating and spreading in areas where the disease was not endemic before.