[Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis to the north of Isfahan. Human infection in 1991].

An epidemiological investigation was carried out in 1991 at four villages in Borkhar rural district, north of Isfahan, Iran, to obtain baseline data for studying the candidate vaccines of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). A study of prevalence among 6,284 inhabitants showed a rate of 61.95% for scars and 2.9% for active lesions. The under 10 years old showed a rate of 42.9% for scars and 7.5% for active lesions. The above 10 years old showed a rate of 71.06% for scars and 0.7% for active lesions. The highest prevalence of the disease is in the seasons of autumn and winter. The incidence of the disease was 68.4 per thousand in 1991. Comparing the results of this study with those from the years 1963-1965 showed that the disease incidence has increased after 28 years and ZCL has remained as an important health problem in this area.