title: Identification of Leishmania species by kinetoplast DNA-polymerase chain reaction for the first time in Khaf district, Khorasan-e-Razavi province, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic parasitic skin disease in many parts of Iran including Khorasan province. Both clinical forms of the disease, anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) are present in this province. However, leishmaniasis molecular map is determined in four cities of Khorasan, but several foci still are remained unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to identify the species of Leishmania causing CL in Khaf, a District in Khorasan-e-Razavi province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Slide smears obtained from skin lesions of 120 patients suspected to leishmaniasis. Direct microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed using specific kinetoplast DNA primers. Data were analyzed with the use of SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 120 persons with skin ulcers suspected to CL, the results of direct smear of 54 (45%) samples were positive. PCR band were observed in 66 (55%) of examined samples in which 46 bands identified for Leishmania tropica and 20 for Leishmania major.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both ACL and ZCL are present in Khaf. L. tropica is the dominant causative species for ACL. Further study is recommended to discover probable reservoir and vector for L. major in Khaf.
authors.affiliation: Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research Center, Emam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran ; Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdolmajid
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Salehi Sangani
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ghodratollah
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Rafatpanah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hushang
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mousavi Bazzaz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mojtaba
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohaghegh Mohammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Movahedi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdolghayoum
keywords: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Khaf; Leishmania major; Leishmania tropica; polymerase chain reaction