title: Karyosystematic and morphometric characterization of the rodents as reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic focus of Isfahan Province, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rodents belonging to Gerbillinae subfamily are the main reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Regarding the important role of these rodents in the maintenance of Leishmania major in the nature, their identification with morphometric, cytogenetic and molecular methods seems to be essential. The karyotype study of these species, captured from a new focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis located in the south of Isfahan Province was carried out in 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty specimens containing seventeen Meriones persicus and three Nesokia indica were captured from Mobarakeh rural district south of Isfahan. Giemsa-stained karyotypes of these two species were prepared from bone marrow chromosome preparations. Systematic important characters of the body and cranium (incisors, molars, occipitonasal, condylobasal, zygomatic, tympanic bullae, etc.) of these rodents were studied. Cranium size was measured using a Vernier calipers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specimens of M. persicus and N. indica had 2n = 42. The karyotype study of these species included metacentric, sub-metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes. Morphological studies were completely matched with the reported characters of these species and further confirmed the diagnoses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this study, M. persicus and N. indica are two completely differentiated rodents species that were collected from a new focus and they can also be differentiated morphologically.
authors.affiliation: Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center (Sedigheh Tahereh), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. L_shirani@mui.ac.ir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shirani Bidabadi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nilforoushzadeh
authors.forename: A A
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authors.lastname: Akhavan
authors.forename: H
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authors.lastname: Abdoli
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaffary
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shareghi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arandian
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moradi