title: Leishmania species: detection and identification by nested PCR assay from skin samples of rodent reservoirs.
abstract: Many rodent species act as reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in endemic areas. In the present study a simple and reliable assay based on nested PCR was developed for the detection and identification of Leishmania parasites from rodent skin samples. We designed Leishmania-specific primers that successfully amplified ITS regions of Leishmania major, Leishmania gerbilli and Leishmania turanica using nested PCR. Out of 95 field collected Rhombomys opimus, 21 were positive by microscopic examination and 48 by nested PCR. The percentage of gerbils infected with L. major, L. gerbilli and L. turanica was 3.2%, 1.1% and 27.4%, respectively. In 15.8% of the rodents, we found mixed natural infections by L. major and L. turanica, 1.1% by L. major and L. gerbilli, and 2.1% by the three species. We concluded that this method is simple and reliable for detecting and identifying Leishmania species circulating in rodent populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akhavan
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirhendi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khamesipour
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Alimohammadian
authors.forename: Yavar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rassi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Shaden
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamhawi
authors.forename: Jesus G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Arandian
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdoli
authors.forename: Niloufar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jalali-zand
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Niloufar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shareghi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanei
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Yaghoobi-Ershadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan