Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 11 3 2017 10 08 414 426 EN Abedin Saghafipour Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, International Campus (IC -TUMS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hassan Vatandoost Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Environmental Chemical Pollutants and Pesticides, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Silences, Tehran, Iran Ali Reza Zahraei-Ramazani Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Moharram Karami Jooshin Qom Provincial Health Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran Yavar Rassi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Reza Shirzadi Communicable Diseases Management Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 10 08 2017 10 08 Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most important health problems in many areas of Iran. There are two forms of the disease in Iran, anthroponotic and zoonotic CL. This study conducted to assess the epi­demiological situation of CL in an endemic area of Qom Province, central Iran from Apr to Nov 2015. Methods: The sticky paper traps and aspirating tubes were used for collecting adult sand flies. Sherman traps and small insect nets were used to capture rodents and small mammals. Giemsa staining was used for preparing the ex­panded smear and followed by PCR for identifying the causative agent in human, vectors, and reservoirs. In this study, relative frequency of CL was also calculated. Results: Fourteen species of Phlebotomine sand flies were collected. Phlebotomus papatasi (61.74%) was the pre­dominant species through the period of activity. Overall, 62 Meriones libycus, 8 Nesokia indica, 4 Mus musculus, 16 Allactaga elater and 2 Hemiechinus auritis were caught. PCR technique showed 6 out of 150 P. papatasi (2%), two out of 62 M. libycus (3.23%) and all of suspected human's skin tissue samples (100%) were infected with Leishmania major. The relative frequency of CL was 0.30%.  Conclusion: This is the first detection of L. major within P. papatasi, M. libycus and human in Kahak District in Qom Province of Iran. Zoonotic cycle of CL exists in this area, L. major is the causative agent, P. papatasi is the main vector and M. libycus is the main reservoir of the disease.  https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/734 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/734/355