Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a protozoan disease caused by some Leishmania donovani complex species and is considered as an endemic zoonotic parasitic disease in Iran. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of human VL in Iran. Data were systematically gathered from 1985 to 2018 in Islamic republic of Iran from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, Irandoc, Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID). In total, 29 studies reporting the prevalence of VL from different areas of Iran met our suitability criteria. The Q test and the I2 statistics were applied to determine heterogeneities. The Egger’s and Begg’s test was used to check the presence of publication bias. The pooled prevalence of VL in Iran measured by random-effects was estimated at 1% (95% CI:1 - 2) in urban areas, 3% (95% CI:2 - 4) in rural areas and 2% (95% CI: 2-3) in total. The majority of VL cases during the last 33 years were reported in the northwest and south provinces of Iran. There was a high degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 98.2%, Q test: p = 0.0002) and Begg’s (z = 3.62, p < 0.001) and Egger’s (bias = 5.9, 95% CI = 2.70 - 9.11) tests were significant for the study of publication bias. After correction, the total prevalence was estimated to be 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2 - 0.9). The prevalence of VL in Iran was 0.3%, and this rate was much higher in the northwest and south of the country. These results are desirable for managing the control programs of this disease.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
12
Mohammad Jokar, Vahid Rahmanian, Mehran Farhoodi, Arman Abdous, Farzane Shams, Nima Karami
(2021)
Seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in cattle population in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53(5)
10.1007/s11250-021-02918-6
Reza Shafiei, Amir Azimian, Mahdi Mohebali, Zahra Badiei, Nima Firouzeh, Saber Raeghi
(2025)
Are There Atypical Leishmania Species Responsible for the Kala-Azar Persistence in Northeast Iran?
Acta Parasitologica, 70(2)
10.1007/s11686-025-01015-0
Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi, Mohammad Jokar, Nader Sharifi, Benyamin Omidmokhtarloo, Vahid Rahmanian
(2023)
Global knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1)
10.1186/s12884-023-05560-2
Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi, Mohammad Jokar, Nader Sharifi, Sirus Kashkooli, Karamatollah Rahmanian, Vahid Rahmanian
(2024)
Global knowledge and attitudes towards mpox (monkeypox) among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
International Health, 16(5)
10.1093/inthealth/ihad094
Mohammad Barati, Amir KarimiPourSaryazdi, Vahid Rahmanian, Saeed Bahadory, Amir Abdoli, Hassan Rezanezhad, Kavous Solhjoo, Ali Taghipour
(2022)
Global prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in rodents, birds, and water supplies: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 208()
10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105770
Mohammad Jokar, Negin Namavari, Seyed Alireza Moshiri, Hossein Kargar Jahromi, Vahid Rahmanian
(2023)
The incidence of oral cavity cancer in Iran: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Cancer Reports, 6(6)
10.1002/cnr2.1836
Saied Bokaie, Vahid Rahmanian, Aliakbar Haghdoost, Mohsen Barooni
(2020)
Temporal analysis of visceral leishmaniasis between 2000 and 2019 in Ardabil Province, Iran: A time-series study using ARIMA model
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 9(12)
10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1542_20
Musa Ahmed, A Abdulslam Abdullah, Idris Bello, Suad Hamad, Aboelgassim Bashir
(2022)
Prevalence of human leishmaniasis in Sudan: A systematic review and meta-analysis
World Journal of Methodology, 12(4)
10.5662/wjm.v12.i4.305
Mohammad Jokar, Vahid Rahmanian, Nadia Golestani, Yasamin Raziee, Mehran Farhoodi
(2023)
The Global Seroprevalence of Equine Brucellosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Based on Publications From 1990 to 2022
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 123()
10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104227
Mohammad Jokar, Farzane Shams, Vahid Rahmanian, Mehran Farhoodi, Behnam Nadali, Yasamin Raziee
(2022)
The global seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in deer: a systematic review and meta-analysis study
Small Ruminant Research, 214()
10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106745
Abebe Kassa Geto, Gete Berihun, Leykun Berhanu, Belay Desye, Chala Daba
(2024)
Prevalence of human visceral leishmaniasis and its risk factors in Eastern Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Public Health, 12()
10.3389/fpubh.2024.1488741
Negin Namavari, Mohammad Jokar, Arnoosh Ghodsian, Hossein Kargar Jahromi, Vahid Rahmanian
(2024)
Menopausal state and rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Rheumatology, 8(1)
10.1186/s41927-024-00418-2The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.