Molecular detection of Leishmania isolated from Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in Jask County, Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran, 2008

ObjectiveTo investigate on patients leishmanial infections in Jask County.MethodsImpression smears were prepared from patients in 2008, all, were chequed for leishmanial infection by microscopy and molecular assays. Whole DNA was extracted using Proteinase K and Phenol/Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol method. The variable segment on minicircles of kinetoplast DNA was amplified via a Nested-PCR technique using species-specific primers (LIN R4-LIN 17 -Lin 19).ResultsA total of 40 smears were prepared from 20 patients, from which, eight samples (40%) were positive for leishman body by microscopic method, while, 18 samples (90%) were positive, molecularly. The parasite was identified as Leishmania major (L. major).ConclusionZoonotic or Rural cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Jask County whose pathogen is L. major. Molecular assays using specific primers are very accurate and more sensitive and specific than microscopy which is time consuming and needs master microscopists.