title: Natural infection of wild caught Phlebotomus tobbi to Leishmania infantum in East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum, which is transmitted to humans by bites of phlebotomine sandflies and is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. To detect and identify the Leishmania parasites and their corresponding vector(s), an investigation was carried out in Azarshahr County, a new and important focus of the disease in East Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran during late April to late October 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sandflies were sampled using sticky papers (A4 white paper soaked in castor oil) from inside and outside of the houses and animal shelters, close to the vegetation and crevices. The head and three last abdomen segments of the specimens were removed and mounted in Puri's medium for species identification. The rest of body was subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 400 female sandflies tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, and CPB genes of the parasite followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), only 2 out of 8 Phlebotomus tobbi were positive to L. infantum parasites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that, P. tobbi was the only species found infected by L.infantum and the principal vector of the disease agent to human.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oshaghi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rassi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hazratian
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafizadeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007492:Iran; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D015800:Protozoan Proteins