author(s)
Yavar Rassi, Mohammad Reza Abai, Sayena Rafizadeh

abstract
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is an endemic disease in many rural areas of Iran. In order to determine of vector(s) and reservoir of disease, a study was conducted in south part of Shiraz city (new focus of disease), Fars Province in 2014. A total of 2161 sand flies were collected. They were recognized as Phlebotomus papatasi, P. sergenti, P. tobbi, Sergentomyia dentata, S. sintoni, S. clydei, S. sogdiana and S. mervynae. Phlebotomus papatasi was the dominant species. Employing k DNA-nested PCR technique on 200 females of sand flies only 5 out of P. papatasi (4.5%), were positive to Leishmania major. Using Sherman live traps, 26 rodents were captured. They all were Meriones libycus. Among the collected animals only 2 out of them (7.7%) were infected with L. major. The results indicated that P. papatasi and M. libycus were the main vector and reservoir of disease in the studied area respectively.