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Debash H, Bisetegn H, Ebrahim H, Tilahun M, Dejazmach Z, Getu N, Feleke DG. Burden and seasonal distribution of malaria in Ziquala district, Northeast Ethiopia: a 5-year multi-centre retrospective study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067103. [PMID: 37597861 PMCID: PMC10441121 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was aimed to determine the 5-year trend of malaria positivity rate in Ziquala district, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS Review of blood film reports from health institutions' laboratory record books using predesigned checklists was done as part of an institution-based retrospective study to assess the 5-year (2016/2017-2020/2021) trend of malaria. To display data and analyse patterns in the trend of malaria over the course of years, months and seasons, descriptive statistics were used. The results of the data analysis were displayed in tables and figures using SPSS V.26.0. P values under 0.05 were considered as statistically significant for all comparisons. RESULTS A total of 46 365 blood films from malaria suspected individuals were diagnosed using microscopy over the last 5 years. Of the diagnosed individuals, 14 429 (31.1%) were confirmed positive for Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium falciparum (59.7%) and Plasmodium vivax (37.0%) were the dominant species. The positivity rate of mixed infection (P. falciparum and P. vivax) was 3.3%. The maximum (3598; 29.6%) and minimum (2085; 29.1%) number of cases were reported in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, respectively. Of the total cases, 9206 (63.8%) were in males. Moreover, the highest malaria positivity rate was observed in the age group of 15-45 (4040; 28.0%). Among the six health facilities, Ziquala district hospital had the highest malaria positivity rate (35.8%), followed by Tsitsika health centre (27.3%) and Mishra health centre (14.2%). CONCLUSION With P. falciparum being the most common species, malaria remains a severe public health threat in the district. Therefore, the district health office and other concerned bodies should strengthen and implement evidence-based malaria prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Habtu Debash
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Habtye Bisetegn
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Hussen Ebrahim
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Mihret Tilahun
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Zelalem Dejazmach
- Department of Medeical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Nigatu Getu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Ziquala Hospital, Ziquala, Ethiopia
| | - Daniel Getacher Feleke
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parssitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Faraji-Fard P, Ahmadi-Angali K, Behbahani A. Species Variety of the Calf and Human-Attracted Mosquitoes in Southwest Iran. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2022; 15:162-170. [PMID: 35111854 PMCID: PMC8782744 DOI: 10.18502/jad.v15i2.7485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Any mosquito control methods requires precise information about population dynamics, variety, biology and mosquito habitat. This research assessed Culicid mosquitoes’ attraction to a human host and a calf to better understand their behavior. Methods: Adult mosquitoes were sampled in 22 weeks in southwestern Iran’s Nur Ali Village from May to October 2015. The mosquitoes were drawn to the person and calf as bait, while the unbaited trap was also used. A substantial statistical difference between attracted mosquitoes to the hosts was determined in the T-test. Results: Within 22 weeks, 29821 mosquitoes were captured. Only 9% were collected from the human baited net trap, 89.1% from the calf baited net trap, and 1.9% from the unbaited net trap. The number of collected female mosquitoes was statistically significantly higher using the calf baited net trap of the total mosquitoes, 916 were randomly identified at the species level by local identification keys. Of these, 63 were Anopheles stephensi (human: 16%, calf: 75% and unbaited: 9%), 83 An. pulcherrimus (human: 27%, calf: 60% and unbaited: 13%), 118 Aedes caspius (human: 24%, calf: 69% and unbaited: 7%), 493 Culex tritaeniorhynchus (human: 52%, calf: 37% and unbaited: 11%), 153 Cx. quinquefasciatus (human: 44%, calf: 47% and unbaited: 9%), and 6 Cx. theileri (human: 33%, calf: 50% and unbaited: 17%). Conclusion: The obtained results here provide useful insights into the mosquito population and the possibility of using this information as an essential part of integrated vector management regarding the reemergence of malaria or other mosquito-borne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvaneh Faraji-Fard
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Kambiz Ahmadi-Angali
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Abdolamir Behbahani
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Current Status and the Epidemiology of Malaria in the Middle East Region and Beyond. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020338. [PMID: 33572053 PMCID: PMC7915327 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne parasitic infectious diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Malaria is one of the most common vector-borne parasitic infection and is caused by five Plasmodium species, namely P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Epidemiologically, differences in the patterns of malaria cases, causative agent, disease severity, antimicrobial resistance, and mortality exist across diverse geographical regions. The world witnessed 229 million malaria cases which resulted in 409,000 deaths in 2019 alone. Although malaria cases are reported from 87 countries globally, Africa bears the brunt of these infections and deaths as nearly 94% of total malaria cases and deaths occur in this continent, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the Middle East Region countries are malaria-free as no indigenous cases of infection have been described in recent years. However, imported cases of malaria continue to occur as some of these countries. Indeed, the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have large expatriate population originating from malaria endemic countries. In this review, the current status and epidemiology of malaria in the Middle East Region countries and other malaria-endemic countries that are home to a large migrant workforce being employed in Middle East Region countries are discussed.
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Mousavi A, Ardalan A, Takian A, Ostadtaghizadeh A, Naddafi K, Bavani AM. Climate change and health in Iran: a narrative review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:367-378. [PMID: 32399247 PMCID: PMC7203306 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The consequences of climate change are highly impeding the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) anywhere, especially in low and middle-income countries. While climate change scales up, its health-related risks increase, which in turn leads to cause new challenges for public health. As a second largest country of the Eastern Mediterranean Region of World Health Organization, Iran is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. PURPOSE This study seeks the notion of health risks and challenges of climate change in Iran and provide potential evidence-based remedies to prevent and diminish such destructive effects. METHODS A comprehensive literature in various computerized databases was conducted, and numerous published original research and review articles about climate change status and evidences of adverse health consequences of climate change in Iran were reviewed. RESULTS The evidence suggests that the expected health challenges related to climate change in Iran are: rising temperatures; frequent extreme weather events; reduction of air quality; food-borne, water-borne, and vector-borne diseases; mental health and well-being consequences; and the increasing trend of natural disasters and deaths associated with climatological hazards. CONCLUSIONS By considering the growing burden of diseases associated with climate variability in Iran as well as the interdisciplinary nature of climate change and health issues, an integrated, multi-sectoral, and comprehensive approach for identification, prioritization, and implementation of adaptation options is required by Ministry of Health and Medical Education as a custodian of public health in order to enhance the resiliency and adaption against adverse health effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arefeh Mousavi
- Department of Disaster and Emergency Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Ardalan
- Department of Disaster and Emergency Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Takian
- Department of Global Health & Public Policy, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department Management and Health Economics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Ostadtaghizadeh
- Department of Disaster and Emergency Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kazem Naddafi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Massah Bavani
- Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Abureyhan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Charati J, Moqarabzadeh V, Enayati A, Raeisi A, Nikpour F. Provincial clustering of malaria in Iran between 2005 and 2014. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/1995-7645.280223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Detection of malaria with light microscopy and Nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) methods in peripheral blood expansions and investigation of the genetic diversity of Plasmodium species by 18S rRNA gene in Southeast of Iran. Microb Pathog 2019; 137:103782. [PMID: 31600540 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a public health concern that leads to about a million deaths worldwide every year. Malaria is caused by the genus Plasmodium, which includes P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale. Molecular phylogeny is essential to better recognition the evolution of the genus Plasmodium genus and detection of the relative degree of Plasmodium species in humans. The aim of this study was to detect malaria with Light Microscopy (LM) and Nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) methods in peripheral blood expansions and to investigate the genetic diversity of Plasmodium species by 18S rRNA gene in the southeast of Iran. METHODS A total of 97 blood smears were collected from patients suspected to malaria in a 6-year period in the southeast of Iran including Hormozgan, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces. Diagnosis of Plasmodium species on blood smears was performed using LM and Nested PCR methods. In addition, 16 Plasmodium-positive samples were chosen for the determination of genetic diversity. RESULTS Overall, 97 of 97 (100%) studied cases were positive by LM while 94 of 97 (96.8%) of them were detected as malaria by Nested PCR. Except for seven cases, Nested PCR confirmed the LM results. These samples involved two P. vivax and five P. falciparum in the LM method. Meanwhile, the Nested PCR was detected in all of the cases as a mixed infection with P. vivax and P. falciparum. The results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed two main clades and five different subclades. About 87.5% of the isolates were located in clade I and contained P. vivax. In addition, 12.5% of the studied isolates involved P. falciparum that was in clade II. CONCLUSION According to our results, Nested PCR method had higher sensitivity than LM and is suggested as a good approach for malaria detection. Consideration the wide diversity of tested isolates and the importance of vaccine development, which is affected by this diversity, further studies are needed in this regard.
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Spatial distribution and epidemiological features of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southwest of Iran. ALEXANDRIA JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajme.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Beteck RM, Seldon R, Jordaan A, Warner DF, Hoppe HC, Laming D, Khanye SD. New Quinolone-Based Thiosemicarbazones Showing Activity Against Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24091740. [PMID: 31060249 PMCID: PMC6540015 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24091740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-infection of malaria and tuberculosis, although not thoroughly investigated, has been noted. With the increasing prevalence of tuberculosis in the African region, wherein malaria is endemic, it is intuitive to suggest that the probability of co-infection with these diseases is likely to increase. To avoid the issue of drug-drug interactions when managing co-infections, it is imperative to investigate new molecules with dual activities against the causal agents of these diseases. To this effect, a small library of quinolone-thiosemicarbazones was synthesised and evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causal agents of malaria and tuberculosis, respectively. The compounds were also evaluated against HeLa cells for overt cytotoxicity. Most compounds in this series exhibited activities against both organisms, with compound 10, emerging as the hit; with an MIC90 of 2 µM against H37Rv strain of M. tuberculosis and an IC50 of 1 µM against the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum. This study highlights quinolone-thiosemicarabazones as a class of compounds that can be exploited further in search of novel, safe agents with potent activities against both the causal agents of malaria and tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Beteck
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
| | - Ronnett Seldon
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3-D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
| | - Audrey Jordaan
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
| | - Digby F Warner
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
| | - Heinrich C Hoppe
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedicinal Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
| | - Dustin Laming
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedicinal Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
| | - Setshaba D Khanye
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
- Centre for Chemico- and Biomedicinal Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.
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Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an epidemiological study in southwest of Iran. J Parasit Dis 2019; 43:190-197. [PMID: 31263323 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-1073-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study was aimed to evaluate the frequency and epidemiological aspects of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the southwest of Iran, an endemic focus for the leishmaniasis from 2014 to 2017. In the present retrospective cross-sectional study, all suspicious CL persons who were referred to health centers affiliated to Abadan School of Medical Sciences (Abadan and Khorramshahr cities) were tested. In this regard, both clinical and parasitological (staining with Giemsa) verifications were performed to diagnose a case. Furthermore, a structured questionnaire containing some demographic details was applied for each positive patient. In total, 151 and 132 positive CL cases were identified in Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, respectively. More frequency of CL was observed during the Winter season, among male subjects, and in urban inhabitants in both cities. The incidence of CL based on age distribution was higher in the age range of 20-30 years than others. Besides, the hands and feet were the most involved organs. Although the frequency of CL has declined in the region, CL is still a public health problem. More appropriate control strategies are required to limit and eliminate the infection in the future.
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Khajeh A, Mohammadi Z, Darvish J, Razmi GR, Ghorbani F, Mohammadi A, Mobedi I, Shahrokhi AR. A survey on endoparasites in wild rodents of the Jaz Murian depression and adjacent areas, southeast of Iran. J Parasit Dis 2018; 42:589-597. [PMID: 30538358 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-1040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In this survey, rodents and their endoparasites were investigated in the Jaz Murian depression and adjacent areas, southeast Iran. In total, 146 specimens of rodents belong to 13 species were trapped. In general, 10 different genera of endoparasites including 11 species were collected. The endoparasites were identified as follows: (1) Nematodes: Trichuris muris, Syphacia obvelata, Labiostomum sp., Labiostomum naimi, Mastrophorus muris, Aspicularis tetraptera and Heligmosomoides skrjabini, Physaloptera sp. (2) Cestodes: Choanotaenia sp., Raillietina sp., and Hymenolepis diminuta. Of 146 captured rodents, Tatera indica was found with high parasitic infestation (with 93% infested) comparing to Acomys dimidiatus (66%), Rattus rattus (50%), Meriones libycus (15%), Jaculus blanfordi (14%) and Mus musculus (8%) whereas, seven rodent species, Nesokia indica, Gerbillus nanus, Golunda ellioti, Calomyscus hotsoni, Apodemus witherbyi, Cricetulus migratorius and Microtus mystacinus were free from any parasitic infestation. Those six infested rodent species were collected from the center of the Jaz Murian depression, whereas seven non-infested rodents' species except N. indica and G. nanus live in the marginal ranges of the Jaz Murian depression, therefore, these species inhabiting the central parts were supposed to be more important from the health aspect. The species, Labiostomum naimi collected from A. dimidiatus is the first report of this species in rodents from Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asghar Khajeh
- Department of Crop Productions Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Higher Educational Complex of Saravan, Saravan, Iran
| | - Zeinolabedin Mohammadi
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jamshid Darvish
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gholam Reza Razmi
- 2Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghorbani
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammadi
- 4Department of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,5National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infection Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan Iran
| | - Iraj Mobedi
- 6Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Shahrokhi
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Higher Educational Complex of Saravan, Saravan, Iran
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Composition of Anopheles Species Collected from Selected Malarious Areas of Afghanistan and Iran. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2017; 11:354-362. [PMID: 29322052 PMCID: PMC5758631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malarious areas in Iran are close to Afghanistan and Pakistan that urge the researchers to extend their knowledge on malaria epidemiology to the neighboring countries as well. Vectorial capacity differs at species or even at population level, the first essential step is accurate identification of vectors. This study aimed to identify Anopheles species composition in selected malarious areas of Afghanistan and Iran, providing further applied data for other research in two countries. METHODS Adults Anopheles spp. were collected from four provinces in Afghanistan (Badakhshan, Herat, Kunduz, Nangarhar) by pyrethrum spray catch, hand collection methods through WHO/EMRO coordination and from Chabahar County in Iran by pyrethrum spray catch method. Identification was performed using reliable identification key. RESULTS Totally, 800 female Anopheles mosquitos, 400 from each country were identified at species level. Anopheles composition in Afghanistan was An. superpictus, An. stephensi and An. hyrcanus. Most prevalent species in Badakhshan and Kunduz were An. superpictus, whereas An. stephensi and An. hyrcanus were respectively found in Nangarhar and Heart. Anopheles species in Chabahar County of Iran were An. stephensi, An. fluviatilis, An. culicifacies and An. sergentii. The most prevalent species was An. stephensi. CONCLUSION Current study provides a basis for future research such as detection of Plasmodium infection in collected samples which is on process by the authors, also for effective implementation of evidence-based malaria vector intervention strategies.
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Abstract
In recent years, through a national programme for schistosomiasis control, this infection has been eliminated from Iran. The aim of this study was to report the process of significant decrease of urogenital schistosomiasis in southwestern Iran. During national programme surveillance for urogenital schistosomiasis control which was implemented by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Khuzestan province from 1975 to 2013, more than 1·3 million urine samples were taken from inhabitants of high risk foci. All urine samples were gathered between 10:00 a.m and 02:00 p.m and, after centrifuging, specimens were tested under optical microscope in order to detect Schistosoma haematobium eggs. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18 software. In this retrospective study significant reduction was seen in number of infections between 1975 and 2013. During the years 1975-1980, 1981-1990 and 1991-2000 there were 1582, 761 and 79 cases of S. haematobium, respectively. In 2001 only one case was reported from Ahvaz and indeed this was the last case of urogenital schistosomiasis in Khuzestan and of course, in Iran. Prevalence from 1·064% between 1975 and 1980 slumped to 0% in 2012-2013. During several projects for surveillance of urogenital schistosomiasis, selective population chemotherapy, snail control, population education, environmental improvement, etc were carried out throughout the surveillance period. According to elimination of S. haematobium in Khuzestan province, the only endemic region of Iran, control of disease, especially the campaign with intermediate host snails should be continued. Iran can be a successful model for countries suffering from this disease.
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