Abstract
Background: Rodents are the main reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniases (ZCLs) in different parts of Iran. Nonetheless, no evidence of natural infestation of Leishmania parasite has been reported from spiny mice Acomys dimidiatus (Rodentia: Muridae). Materials and Methods: Between March 2011 and March 2012, 62 wild rodents were captured and checked for leishmanial infestation of their livers and spleens using polymerase chain reaction in fourteen regions of Darab district in Fars province, southern Iran. Results: Overall, 62 rodents consisting of 42 Tatera indica, 6 Meriones libycus, 5 Meriones persicus, 5 Mus musculus, and 4 A. dimidiatus were identified. Infestation to Leishmania major was confirmed in all the captured species of rodents: T. indica (23.8%), M. libycus (50%), A. dimidiatus (50%), M. persicus (20%), and M. musculus (20%). Conclusions:T. indica was the reservoir host of L. major in this focus of ZCL. Moreover, M. libycus and M. persicus had a remarkable role in the maintenance of the parasite. A. dimidiatus was also introduced as a new probable reservoir host of L. major for the first time. Yet, the role of this species in the maintenance, transmission, and epidemiological cycle of ZCL needs more specific researches.
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