Kala- Azar in Khoozestan Part one (1971-1980)

SUMMARY In parasitological and serological (Fluoresent) studies of 125 clinically suspected Kala- azar patients from different areas of Khooszestan province,51 cases (40.8%) were proved to have leishmanial infection. From 101 direct examination of bone marrow after staining with Giemsa in 32 cases amastigotes were found and leishmanial antibody were detected in titres 1/64-1/4096 by indirect fluorescent antibody test (1/64,1,1/256,4,1/1024 15 and 1/4096,12 cases). In 3 cases that only Parasitological examinations were carried out L.d bodies were dutected. In 13 cases which in direct smears of bone marrow no leishman bodies were observed the antibody titres 1/256 to 1/4096 were detected (1/256,5. 1/1024,4 and 1/4096, 4 cases). In 8 cases that only serological test (IIFAT) was carried out 3 cases showed the titre of 1/256 to 1/4096 (1/256, 1 and 1/4096, 2 cases).33 patients out of 51 were male (#65%) and 18(#35%) were female. Age of 2 patients were unkown and the rest were under the age of 10 years. Most of the cases were in the age 1 to 3 years. Positive cases were from different parts of Khoozestan mostly from Ahwaz, Dasht-Azadegan and Masjed Soleiman.