comparative study on the effectiveness of coumavec® and zinc phosphide in controlling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic focus in central iran

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 in intervention 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.