title: Molecular characterization of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah province, western Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease affecting a large number of people worldwide. In this study we carried out the molecular characterization of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Province, Saudi Arabia, confirming Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica as the prevalent species using molecular techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five patients with suspected CL were identified from four different localities in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Province and Al-Miqat Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Thirty-four of the 105 patients were selected at random for molecular investigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characterization of CL species by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR established L. major and L. tropica as the causative organisms. kDNA PCR had a sensitivity of 90.7%, whereas ITS1 PCR had a sensitivity of 70.1%, thus facilitating the diagnosis and species identification. Parasite culture alone detected 39.2% and smear alone 55.3% of the positive samples. With the exception of kDNA PCR, all other assays were 100% specific.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first findings for the comprehensive molecular characterization of CL in Saudi Arabia.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratories Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, PO Box 30001, Saudi Arabia. hesham_elbeshbishy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hesham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Beshbishy
authors.forename: Khalil H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Al-Ali
authors.forename: Ayman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Badry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics*; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000235:genetics*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer