Spatial Distribution and Molecular Identification of Leishmania Species from Endemic Foci of South-Eastern Iran
Sharifi، F نويسنده Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Sharifi, F , Sharifi، I نويسنده Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Sharifi, I , Zarean، M نويسنده Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Zarean, M , Hakimi Parizi، M نويسنده Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Hakimi Parizi, M , Aflatoonian، MR نويسنده Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Aflatoonian, MR , Fasihi Harandi، M نويسنده Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Fasihi Harandi, M , Zahmatkesh، R نويسنده Provincial Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Zahmatkesh, R , Mashayekhi، M نويسنده Provincial Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mashayekhi, M , Kermanizadeh، AR نويسنده District Health Center, Bam Health System, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran Kermanizadeh, AR
Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis constitutes a major public health problem in many parts of the world including Iran. The primary objective of this study was to identify Leishmania species in endemic districts of Kerman Province, south-eastern Iran.
Methods: This study was conducted by random sampling as cross- sectional descriptive between 2008 and 2010. Overall, 203 skin scraping smears were taken from the patients. Nested -PCR was performed to amplify variable minicircle fragments of Leishmania kDNA.
Results: Bam was the most infected district (71.1%), followed by Kerman (14.7%), Jiroft (5.4%), Baft (2.7%), Sirjan (1.6%), Shahr-e Babak (1.5%) and others (3.0%). L. tropica was the most common species identified (194 cases, 95.6%), while L. major was found in only 9 cases (4.4%). Of 203 identified patients, all species in Bam (l07 cases), Kerman (32 cases), Jiroft (l6 cases) and Shahr-e- Babak (l1 cases) were detected as L. tropica, whereas infected subjects in Baft and Sirjan showed L. tropica or L. major. Characterization of Leishmania species resulted in generation of 750 bp and 560 bp fragments, corresponding to those of L. tropica and L. major, respectively.
Conclusion: L. tropica is the main species (95.6%) caused ACL in endemic areas of Kerman Province; however L. major is present in low level (4.4%).