The Associations ofLeishmania majorandLeishmania tropicaAspects by Focusing Their Morphological and Molecular Features on Clinical Appearances in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis has various phenotypic aspects consisting of polymorphic amastigotes with different genetic ranges. Samples were collected from suspected patients of Khuzestan province. Prepared smears were stained, scaled, and measured using ocular micrometer. The Cyt b, ITS-rDNA, and microsatellite genes of Leishmania were amplified and Leishmania species were identified by molecular analyses. Of 150 examined suspected patients, 102 were identified to Leishmania species (90 L. major, nine L. tropica, and three unidentified). The amastigotes of 90 L. major had regular and different irregular shapes within three clinical lesions with no and/or low genetic diversity. Three haplotypes of Cyt b of L. major were found but no variation was observed using ITS-rDNA gene. Interesting findings were that all nine L. tropica had regular amastigote shapes with more genetic variations, also a patient which had coinfection of L. major, L. tropica, and Crithidia. At least two L. major and L. tropica were identified in suspected patients of the regions. Different irregular amastigotes' shapes of L. major can be explained by various reservoir hosts and vectors. In contrast, more molecular variations in L. tropica could be justified by genetic characters. Unidentified Leishmania could be mixed pathogens or nonpathogens with mammals' Leishmania or Crithidia.

Evaluation of LACK Gene Diversity in Leishmania major Using PCR and Sequencing Methods

“…More than 90% of the isolated Leishmania in suspected patients were related to L. major and 10% to L. tropica. They showed 3 haplotypes of L. major using Cyt b amplifying; however, surveying ITS-rDNA gene did not show any diversity in L. major (18). Sample sequencing revealed that this area has no diversity in LACK gene except for one change in nucleotide base observed in Tehran strain without any change in acid amine arrangement.…”

Tatera indica (Rodentia: Muridae) as the Prior Concern and the Main Reservoir Host of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis on the Border of Iran and Iraq

“…Using ITS-rDNA gene and two statistical methods (NJ and ML), a few old world Leishmania species were identified in Iran and elsewhere under similar conditions (22,(32)(33)(34).…”

“…Another objective of this study was to explore (i) genetic variation, (ii) polymorphism, and (iii) genetic similarity as effective factors in maintaining equilibrium of mutation due to natural selection or genetic drift in the population of L. major isolated from sandfly species as vectors, wild rodent species as reservoirs and human at the border of Iran and Iraq (22).…”

The burden of leishmaniasis in Iran, acquired from the global burden of disease during 1990–2010

“…Alvar et al showed that from 2004 to 2008, the number of reported CL cases/year and an estimated annual number of new CL cases were 26 630 to 113 300, respectively, while VL was responsible for 149 reported cases/year and an estimated 300-600 new VL cases annually. In addition, VL was fatal in almost all untreated cases [1,13]. More recently, Mohebali showed that through the end of 1993, approximately 4 300 cases of VL were diagnosed in different parts of Iran.…”