en انگل شناسی Parasitology Research Article Research Article <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b>Background:</b> Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a protozoan infection caused by a flagellated parasite complex known as <i>Leishmania</i> spp. Iran is an endemic area for CL. The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiological factors and geographical distribution of CL in Southwestern Khuzestan using the GIS method.<br> <b>Methods:</b> In this cross-sectional study, epidemiological and demographic data from 787 individuals affected by CL in Behbahan County between 2002 and 2021 were collected. Patient locations were plotted on a point shapefile of villages, towns, and cities in Behbahan County, and geographic data were analyzed using ArcGIS version 10.<br> <b>Results:</b> Among the 787 studied cases, 512 (65%) were male. The disease was most prevalent among individuals aged 21-30 years. Lesions appeared in various regions of the body, with 41% of cases involving the hands. The highest annual incidence rate was recorded in 2009, at approximately 40 cases per 100,000 population, whereas the lowest incidence rate occurred in 2002, at 5.8 per 100,000 population. Noticeable variations in disease prevalence were identified among non-Iranian individuals, rural populations (Including pastoral and peri-urban areas), males, and younger individuals. Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis indicated that the most affected areas were located in the central region (Behbahan or Markazi area) and the southern region (Zeydoon) of the mapped topography.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: The findings highlight the need to implement effective prevention and control measures to reduce the burden of CL in Behbahan County. These measures should include targeted health education campaigns and vector control strategies, with particular focus on regions identified as high-prevalence areas through GIS topographic analysis.</span></span></p> Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Medical Topography, Geographic Information Systems, Epidemiology, Iran 0 0 http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1758-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Kazem Alizadeh-Barzian kazembarzian@yahoo.com 100319475328460032898 100319475328460032898 No Department of Public Health, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Mohammad Amin Ghatee ghateea1980@gmail.com 100319475328460032899 100319475328460032899 No Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran Mehdi Jamshidi mehdian3@yahoo.com 100319475328460032900 100319475328460032900 No Department of Public Health, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Mohamad Sabaghan sabaghan.m@ajums.ac.ir 100319475328460032901 100319475328460032901 No Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Abolhasan Difrakhsh difrakhsh@yahoo.com 100319475328460032902 100319475328460032902 No Department of Public Health, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Zahra Nikkhooy nikkhooyzahra@gmail.com 100319475328460032903 0009-0002-7132-2085 No Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Masoud Parash masoudparashmd@gmail.com 100319475328460032904 0009-0002-5885-0684 No Department of Clinical Sciences, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran Ali Jamshidi ajamshidi@behums.ac.ir 100319475328460032905 100319475328460032905 Yes Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran