Isolation and detection of Leishmania species among naturally infected Rhombomis opimus, a reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Turkemen Sahara, North East of Iran

► We detected and isolated at least two Leishmania species in Rhombomys opimus. ► Conventional and molecular methods employed to detect Leishmania in rodents. ► L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus firmly identified from Turkemen Sahara, Iran.