First detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in wild caught Phlebotomus papatasi in endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis, South of Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the endemic focus of Farashband, Fars Province, South of Iran.


METHODS
Sticky papers and Sherman trap were used for collection of sand flies and rodents, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA were used for identification of Leishmania parasite in sand flies as well as rodents.


RESULTS
Totally 2 010 sand flies were collected and the species of Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli was the common specimen in outdoors and indoors places. PCR technique was employed on 130 females of Phlebotomus papatasi. One of them (0.76%) was positive to parasite Leishmania major (L. major) and one specimen (0.76%) was positive to Leishmania infantum. Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animal reservoirs for amastigote parasites revealed 16 (44%) infected Tatera indica. Infection of them to L. major was confirmed by PCR against kDNA loci of the parasite.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that Phlebotomus papatasi was the dominant species circulating two species of parasites including L. major and Leishmania infantum among human and reservoirs. Furthermore, Tatera indica is the only main host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.
Department of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rassiy@tums.ac.ir.
Rassi
R
Yavar
Karami
K
Hadi
Abai Mohammad
AM
Reza
Mohebali
M
M
Bakshi
B
Hasan
Oshaghi Mohammad
OM
Ali
Rafizadeh
R
Sina
Bagherpoor Hagigi
BH
Habib
Hosseini
H
Abodolrahim
Gholami
G
Manuchehr
D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000662:veterinary*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan
Iran; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania major; Reservoir; Vector