Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2383-0298 13 1 2026 02 23 Serosurvey of Visceral Leishmaniasis Among Drug Users in Fars Province, Southern Iran: A Cross-sectional Analysis 37 41 10.34172/ajcmi.3638 EN Mahshid Dehghani https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1804-1380 Mina Zarrabi Sara Shahriarirad Sahel Rohampour Ghazal Shayan Mostafa Omidian https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5065-5249 Jamal Sarvari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2259-0836 Elham Rezaee Abolfazl Gheshlaghi Bahador Sarkari https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2045-9057 Journal Article 10.34172/ajcmi.3638 2025 04 06 2025 08 03 Background: Drug addiction is known to compromise the immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, the status of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among drug users, a high-risk group, has not been well understood yet. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the seroepidemiology of VL among drug users in Fars Province, southern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 1,400 serum samples from drug users in Fars Province for anti-Leishmania antibodies using a homemade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The data collected during sampling were documented in a questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS (version 27). Results: The mean age of the participants was 44.59 (±12.50) years, with 52.7% aged between 40 and 50 years. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in the sera of 27 (1.9%) of the subjects, predominantly in males (92.6%). No significant gender difference was observed in the presence of antibodies. Additionally, seroprevalence did not noticeably differ between injecting and non-injecting drug users. Eventually, the majority of seropositive individuals were under the age of 20 years (18.2%, n=11), highlighting a higher burden among younger participants. Conclusion: The findings revealed a significant prevalence of VL among drug users in Fars Province, indicating the importance of tailored public health initiatives and additional studies to support this at-risk group.