Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Coumavec® and Zinc Phosphide in Controlling Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Hyperendemic Focus in Central Iran

• Main Authors: A Veysi, H Vatandoost, MR Yaghoobi-Ershadi, MH Arandian, R Jafari, M Hosseini, H abdoli, Y Rassi, K Heidari, A Sadjadi, R Fadaei, J Ramazanpour, K Aminian, MR Shirzadi, AA Akhavan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2012-06-01
• Series: Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases
• Subjects: Rodent control; Zinc phosphide; Coumavec®; Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis; Iran
• Online Access: https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/95
• ISSN: 1735-7179; 2322-2271

Background: Zoonotic  cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is an increasing health problems in many rural areas of Iran. The aim of this study was to introduce a new alternative rodenticide to control the reservoirs of ZCL, its effect on the vector density and the incidence of the disease in hyperendemic focus of Esfa­han County, central Iran. Methods: The study was carried out from January 2011 to Janu­ary 2012. In intervention areas, rodent control operation was conducted using zinc phosphide or Coumavec®.Active case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 2011–2012. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the vector density, sand flies were collected twice a month using sticky traps. Results: The reduction rate of rodent holes inintervention areas with  Coumavec® and zinc phosphide were 48.46% and 58.15% respectively, whereas in control area results showed 6.66 folds intensification.The Incidence of ZCL significantly reduced in the treated areas. Totally, 3200 adult sand flies were collected and identified in the inter­vention and control areas. In the treated area with zinc phosphide, the density of Phlebotomus papatasi was higher in outdoors in contrast with the treated area by Coumavec® which the density of the sand fly was higher in indoors. Conclusion: Both rodenticides were effective on the incidence of ZCL and the population of the reservoirs as well. Coumavec® seems to be effective on the outdoor density of the vector. This combination of rodenticide-insecticide could be a suitable alternative for zinc phosphide while bait shyness or behavioral resistance is occurred.