Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) continues to be an increasing public health problem in Iran. Shiraz, a city in Fars Province in southwestern Iran, is one of the endemic foci of CL. However, there is no formal report of endemicity of CL in rural areas of Shiraz. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an epidemic of zoonotic CL in this area. The purpose of this study was to examine the epidemiological features of leishmaniasis in three villages in rural areas of Shiraz and to identify the causative species of leishmaniasis using nested PCR with clinical direct samples. The prevalence of infection among 1000 inhabitants of the three villages was 23.2%. Prevalences of ulcers and scars were 7 and 16.2%, respectively. The most infected age group was 0-9 years, with a rate of 14.2%. Children are more than twice as susceptible to the infection. In this study, the Leishmania major strain was identified in the majority of cases. The results of this epidemiological study indicate a high prevalence of leishmaniasis in rural areas of Shiraz.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a self‐healing skin disease which rarely for unknown reason(s) the lesion develops to a non‐healing form. It seems that the initial contact of Leishmania parasites with the host innate immune system is an important step in the outcome of the disease. Recent studies suggested that toll‐like receptors (TLRs) play a role in Leishmania recognition. In this study, the level of TLR2 and TLR4 was checked in patients with healing form of lesion and compared with that of patients with non‐healing form of lesion caused by Leishmania major. Gene expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in peripheral blood‐derived macrophages, before and after stimulation with live L. major promastigotes, was evaluated using quantitative real‐time reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry. The results showed that the mean relative gene expression and difference membrane expression of TLR2 in macrophages of patients with healing form of lesion were significantly higher than patients with non‐healing form of lesion (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0034), respectively, and the mean relative gene expression and difference in protein expression of TLR4 in macrophages of patients with healing form of lesion were significantly higher than that of patients with non‐healing form of lesion (P = 0.021 and P = 0.002), respectively. The data suggested a possible role for TLR2 and TLR4 in the outcome of CL lesion. Further studies are needed to understand more about the detail role of the immune factors in leishmaniasis.

Introduction: The Shahid Babaie Airbase is one of the most endemic areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Isfahan. Community training on CL prevention could have a critical role in controlling CL in endemic areas. Because of the high incidence of disease among youth, this survey was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices (KAP) of students regarding CL in this endemic area. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of a questionnaire that was filled out while interviewing students attending middle and high school on the Shahid Babaie Airbase of Isfahan. The questionnaire contained questions about KAP of students regarding CL. The total scores in each field were categorized as weak, intermediate, or strong. Results: Four hundred fifty students participated in this study, which included 245 high-school students and 205 middle-school students. The total knowledge score of the students was 17.47 (range, 0–30), which indicates an intermediate level of CL knowledge in this population. The students' attitude toward CL was intermediate, with a score of 37 and a range of 13–52. Additionally, practice of prevention was weak (score of 1.8; range, 0–6). There was a significant correlation between gender and both the attitude and knowledge of the students; both scores were higher in female students. Specific knowledge about CL symptoms, carriers, and reservoirs was higher than knowledge about preventative methods. The study revealed that 47.2% of students believed in fortune as a factor involved in acquisition of CL infection. Although 97.9% of students were aware that sandflies carry CL, only 28.6% were able to identify a sandfly. Conclusions: The results of this study further emphasize the importance and necessity of educating this at-risk population by planning direct, in-person training, which is an essential step in improving attitudes and preventative practices toward CL and in controlling CL in endemic areas.

In this study, we evaluated whether the protective potential of resveratrol (RSV; 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) against γ-radiation caused damages in peripheral blood lymphocyte of mice. Resveratrol as a polyphenolic compound scavenges free radicals. Various doses of RSV were administered intraperitoneally 2 hours to adult male mice before a single dose of whole-body γ-irradiation (2 Gy). To assess the protective ability of RSV, the alkaline comet assay in blood lymphocyte of mice was performed and the total comet score was evaluated. The results of the alkaline comet assay showed that RSV significantly inhibited radiation-induced DNA damage. We observed that RSV protects blood lymphocyte against radiation-induced damage in mice.