Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 18 3 2023 09 22 279 293 EN Mehdi Mohebali 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Gholamhossein Edrissian Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Behnaz Akhoundi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammedreza Shirzadi 1. Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Center for Communicable Diseases Management, Ministry of Health Treatment and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Gholamreza Hassanpour Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Atefeh Behkar Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Yavar Rassi Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Homa Hajjaran Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hossein Keshavarz 1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Mehdi Gouya Center for Communicable Diseases Management, Ministry of Health Treatment and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Shahnam Arshi Center for Communicable Diseases Management, Ministry of Health Treatment and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Zeinali Center for Communicable Diseases Management, Ministry of Health Treatment and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran Zabihollah Zarei Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Meshkin-Shahr Health Station from the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran Iraj Sharifi Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Zahra Kakooei Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2023 06 07 2023 07 25 Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. The zoonotic form of VL is endemic in some areas of Iran. We aimed to determine the status of VL identified in humans and canines in different parts of Iran from 2013 to 2022. Method: A national representative cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 provinces of Iran, including the national leishmaniasis reference lab. We employed the direct agglutination test (DAT) as a reliable serological method to detect anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in humans and animal reservoir hosts. Additionally, a narrative literature review was conducted to identify relevant studies on VL seroprevalence in Iran from 2013 to 2023. Results: The results of 21281 human and 5610 canine serum samples from 2013 to 2022 are reported. Altogether, 448 (2.1%, 95%CI: 2.0-2.3) human serum samples showed anti-L. infantum antibody levels of ≥1:3200. Of these samples, 13716 (64.5%) were collected actively, which showed a seroprevalence of 0.6% (95% CI: 0.5-0.8) and 7565 (35.5%) were collected passively, which showed a seroprevalence of 4.8% (95%CI: 4.3-5.3). Overall, 1035 (20.1%, 95%CI: 19.0-21.2) of 5160 domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) samples showed anti-L. infantum antibody levels of ≥1:320. Northwest (2.8%) and northeast (0.96%) regions had the highest human VL seroprevalence, while northwest (21.5%) and south (14.4%) regions had the highest canine VL seroprevalence. Conclusion: Zoonotic VL, an endemic parasitic disease, is still present in several different distinct areas across Iran. While human VL cases have shown a declining trend over the last decade, the prevalence of canine VL remains significant. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/3973 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/3973/1300