Title of article
Molecular Tracking of Leishmania major in an Archived Rattus norvegicus Spleen Sample in Iran: A Case Report
Author/Authors
Allahmoradi ، Mahya Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Najafi ، Faezeh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Koosha ، Mona Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Kazemirad ، Elham Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Latifi ، Alireza Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Naddaf ، Saied Reza Department of Parasitology - Pasteur Institute of Iran , Mirjalali ، Hamed Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Mohebali ، Mehdi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Hajjaran ، Homa Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Otranto ، Domenico Department of Veterinary Medicine - University of Bari , Mowlavi ، Gholamreza Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
From page
496
To page
501
Abstract
Rodents are the primary reservoir hosts for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major. Knowing reservoir hosts is crucial for leishmaniasis surveillance and control programs in endemic areas. In this study, we examined an archived spleen of Rattus norvegicus obtained during a pest control program in 2000 in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The sample was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing to determine the presence of Trypanosomatidae based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 gene. Amplification and sequencing of the discriminative region of the ITS1 gene followed by BLAST analysis showed the highest similarity with L. major isolates. Also, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that our sample was grouped with L. major isolates retrieved from the GenBank database. This finding might support the claim that R. norvegicus acts as a potential reservoir host for L. major. Further studies, including a survey on more rodent samples as well as studying sandflies in the area, might uncover the possible presence of such pathobiological conditions in ZCL transmission in urban and suburban settings.
Keywords
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis , L. major , Rodents , Rattus norvegicus , Iran
Journal title
Iranian Journal of Parasitology (IJP)
Journal title
Iranian Journal of Parasitology (IJP)
Record number
2773254
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