Comparison of cytologic giemsa and real-time polymerase chain reaction technique for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis on scraping smears.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of Leishmania DNA in Giemsa-stained skin scraping slides with direct microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained skin scrapings and to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR.


METHODS
We used 30 samples from cases diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), 16 from clinically suspected individuals but negative in direct microscopic evaluation and 50 normal individuals from nonendemic dry type CL areas.


RESULTS
All samples of CL positive and 8 of suspected cases were positive for RT-PCR, and all nonleishmaniasis cases were negative. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR were 100% (95% CI 88-100%) and 88% (95% CI 78-95%), respectively. We also found an inverse association between the number of lympnocytes (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.97%), neutrophils and Leishman bodies.
Meymandi
Simin Shamsi
SS
Kerman Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Afzalipour Medical School, Kerman, Iran.
Bahmanyar
Mohammad
M
Dabiri
Shahriar
S
Aflatonian
Mohammad Reza
MR
Bahmanyar
Shahram
S
Meymandi
Manzumeh Shamsi
MS
D000818:Animals; D001399:Azure Stains / Q000737:chemistry; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology
D001399:Azure Stains; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan