Effect of rodents' management plan on controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic centers of Qom province in ۲۰۱۲

Introduction: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is considered as a public health condition in many tropical and sub-tropical areas like Iran. Qom Province is considered as a center for CL in Iran. This study aimed at determining the effect of rodents’ management control in controlling the disease incidence in the endemic centers of Qom Province in ۲۰۱۲. Methods: The first part of the study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study deals with rodents found in the villages of the central part of Qom Province. The second part of the study deals with the rodents’ management operation which was carried out as a quasi-experimental study through four phases in all mentioned villages including ۱۲ villages with ۱۱۰۶۱ people. SPSS, Chi-Squared and Mann-Whitney tests were used for analyzing data. Results: Out of ۴۶ hunted small mammals, ۳۱ (۶۷.۴%) rodents were Meriones libycus, ۸ (۱۷.۴%) rodents were Allactaga elater, ۴ (۸.۷%) rodents were Mus musculus, ۲ (۴.۳۵) rodents were Nesokia indica, and ۱ (۲.۷%) rodent was Hemiechinus auritus. The disease incidence rate before intervention (۲۰۱۱) was ۱۷.۹ cases per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ people which it was decreased to ۱۱.۲ cases per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ people after intervention (۲۰۱۲). The decreased incidence of CL in the region controlled by rodents' management plan was significant (P<۰.۰۰۱). Most rodents were hunted during summer and fall seasons. There was no significant difference between year before intervention and the year after intervention in terms of gender and age (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The results showed that rodents’ management plan can play a key role in controlling CL incidence rate. Thus, it is recommended that people, who live in the areas where the plan is implemented, are invited to participate in the relevant training courses.