title: The existence of only one haplotype of Leishmania major in the main and potential reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis using different molecular markers in a focal area in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmania major is the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), and great gerbils are the main reservoir hosts in Iran. Abarkouh in central Iran is an emerging focal point for which the reservoir hosts of ZCL are unclear. This research project was designed to detect any Leishmania parasites in different wild rodent species.
  
  
  METHODS
  All rodents captured in 2011 and 2012 from Abarkouh district were identified based on morphological characteristics and by amplification of the rodent cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene. To detect Leishmania infection in rodents, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of each ear was extracted. Internal transcribed spacer-ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (ITS-rDNA), microsatellites, kinetoplast deoxyribonucleic acid (kDNA) and cytochrome b genes of Leishmania parasites were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing were employed to confirm the Leishmania identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 68 captured rodents in the region, 55 Rhombomys opimus were identified and nine Leishmania infections (9/55) were found. In addition, eight Meriones libycus and two Tatera indica were sampled, and one of each was confirmed to be infected. Two Meriones persicus and one Mus musculus were sampled with no infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that all 11 unambiguously positive Leishmania infections were Leishmania major. Only one haplotype of L. major (GenBank access No. EF413075) was found and at least three rodents R. opimus, M. libycus and T. indica--appear to be the main and potential reservoir hosts in this ZCL focus. The reservoir hosts are variable and versatile in small ZCL focal locations.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Narmin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Najafzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sedaghat
authors.affiliation: South Tehran Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Syed Shuja
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spotin
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Roozbeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taslimian
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaghoubinezhad
authors.affiliation: Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parvizi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000469:parasitology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006239:Haplotypes; D007492:Iran; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers