Sero-epidemiological study on visceral leishmaniasis in marshlands villages of Thi-Qar governorate South of Iraq

The epidemiological survey study on visceral leishmaniasis includes 2 villages that lie in marshlands of Al-Hammar in Thi-Qar governorate. Two hundred blood samples were collected directly on Whattman No.3 filter paper in two marshlands villages, (Al-Sahaki and Al-Fartus) in Thi-Qar governorate (100 children for each village). These children are apparently healthy, 76 male and 76 female, their ages were from 3 months to 9 years. The sero-positive cases reach 94 (47%) out of 200 child in Thi-Qar governorate. Statistically there are no significant differences (p 0.05) between males and females for sero-positive cases. The high percent of sero-positive reaction in children by direct agglutination test (DAT) in Al-Sahaki village was (55%) then Al-Fartus village (39%). Statistically, there are significant differences (p 0.05) between Al-Sahaki and Al-Fartus villages of Thi-Qar governorate for all environmental variables. The percentage of sand flies was (100%) in two villages.