title: Reprint of "Spatial modeling of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran from 1983 to 2013".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous Leshmaniasis (CL), a parasitic skin infection caused by Leishmania species, is endemic in some regions of Iran. In this study, the effect of location on the incidence and distribution of CL in Iran was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected datas including the number of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis cases and populations at-risk of disease in Iran's different provinces reported by the Iranian ministry of health and the National Bureau of Statistics, respectively. Spatial modeling was performed using Arc GIS software. Descriptive maps, hotspot analysis, and high/low clustering analysis were used to demonstrate distribution of the cutaneous leishmaniasis, to determine regions at risk of disease's incidence, and to reach the most appropriate method for clustering of disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis reported through the study period was 589,913. The annual incidence of CL was estimated to be 30.9 per 100,000 in Iranian population. We also demonstrated that Cutaneous leishmaniasis most prominently occurs in regions with dry and desert climates as well as in central parts of Iran. It affected the southwest of Iran between 1983 and 1997, and subsequently developed towards the center and the eastern between 1998 and 2013. Disease hotspots were focused in the provinces of Yazd, Khozestan and Kohgiloyeh-Boyer-Ahmad (p<0.05). No pattern of spatial clustering was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health problem which could be a serious threat for inhabitants who live in high-risk provinces of Iran; much more resources need to be allocated in these areas, to warrant the prevention as well as effectively management of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holakouie-Naieni
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cartography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Darvishi
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Boloorani
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rezapakzad2010@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pakzad
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007891:Leishmania; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D009017:Morbidity; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic; D062206:Spatial Analysis
keywords: Clustering pattern; Geographic information system; Hotspot; Leishmaniasis; Spatial distribution