title: Molecular technique for detection of Leishmania infantum isolates in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of autochthonous cutaneous and visceral cases of leishmaniasis and transmitted by female sandflies. The dogs are considered the main reservoir hosts; however, there are the reports on Leishmania infection in other animals. In this study, occurrence types of L. infantum isolates have been analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, 77 samples were cultured and prepared for microscopic study and examined through PCR-RFLP. The samples were used for both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and smear-slide preparations. The DNAs were amplified by PCR for the detection of Leishmania subgenus and PCR products were restricted with HaeIII for the species differentiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visceral Leishmania parasites were genotyped as L. infantum. It was also determined sensitivity in PCR (100%) was higher than microscopic examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR-RFLP technique appears to be most sensitive for the detection and differentiation of L. infantum. There exists a relationship between genetic heterogeneousness and clinical manifestation and geographical regions of this disease in human.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Reference Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imani
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Reference Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza Dolatyar
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Dehkharghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunolgy School of Allied Health, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Reference Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadloo
keywords: Detection; Leishmania infantum; polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism; visceral leishmaniasis
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