Leishmania species: detection and identification by nested PCR assay from skin samples of rodent reservoirs.
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.
Akhavan
Amir Ahmad
AA
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mirhendi
Hossein
H
Khamesipour
Ali
A
Alimohammadian
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Rassi
Yavar
Y
Bates
Paul
P
Kamhawi
Shaden
S
Valenzuela
Jesus G
JG
Arandian
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Abdoli
Hamid
H
Jalali-zand
Niloufar
N
Jafari
Reza
R
Shareghi
Niloufar
N
Ghanei
Maryam
M
Yaghoobi-Ershadi
Mohammad Reza
MR
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*
D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan