title: Comparison of conventional and polymerase chain reaction diagnostic techniques for leishmaniasis in the endemic region of Adana, Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has long been reported in the Cukurova region. We have compared the sensitivity of the conventional methods of diagnosis by microscopy and cultivation of lesion aspirates against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of parasite-specific DNA from these samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  The samples (n = 25) were obtained from patients clinically diagnosed with CL at the regional dermatology clinic. Aliquots of the samples were stained with Giemsa for microscopy and cultured in Novy-Nicolle-McNeal (NNN) blood agar for promastigote growth. The remainder were subjected to DNA extraction for PCR amplification of the conserved region of kinetoplast minicircle DNA. PCR products of the expected size (120 bp) were observed after agarose gel electrophoresis, followed by staining with ethidium bromide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rates from 25 samples were 44%, 68%, and 100% for cultivation, microscopy, and PCR, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCR method used appears to be the most sensitive for the diagnosis of CL in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey. gulnazculha@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gulnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Culha
authors.forename: Soner
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Hamdi R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Memisoglu
authors.forename: Kwang-Poo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan