Report on Leishmania Infection of Gerbillus nanus (Rodentia: Muridae) as the Reservoir Host of Leishmania Major in Hormozgan Province

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis or oriental sore has continuously expanded during the recent years in the country. Jask County in the easternmost point of Hormozgan province with 245 cases in 2007 has been the main focus of the disease. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of Gerbillus nanus as the reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this center. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study during 2007-2008, rodents were caught from infected villages and after anesthesia, two slides were prepared from each ear of rodents using abrasive grinding and after recording morphometric specifications, their liver and spleen were kept in the 70% ethanol and the rest of the body was kept in 10% formalin for identification. Studies to determine leishmania infection were conducted through microscopic and molecular techniques. DNA was extracted through phenol/chloroform/lsoamyl alcohol method and it was proliferated through Nested-PCR method with primers LINR4, LIN17 and LIN19. Results: A total of 106 rodents were caught. Species Gerbillus nanus (Muridae: Gerbillinae), with 17 heads, included 16.03% of haunting. Leishmania infection was found in a male sample of this species of rodent through microscopic method and two male and female samples (11.76%) through molecular method and specific PCR specified the parasite Leishmania major. Conclusion: Cutaneous leishmaniasis in this center is of zoonotic or damp type with leishmania major agent and the rodent Gerbillus nanus will be introduced in Hormozgan province for the first time as a possible reservoir host of the disease in this center. Infection of this species with Leishmania major is reported for the first time in the world.