title: Molecular Survey on Detection of Leishmania Infection in Rodent Reservoirs in Jahrom District, Southern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) is endemic in many parts of Iran. Recently its incidence is considerable in different parts of Jahrom district, in Fars Province, southern Iran. The aims of our study were to investigate the prevalence of leishmania infection, and identify and characterize the Leishmania species present, among the rodents by molecular methods in a new endemic focus of ZCL, in an urban and rural area of the Jahrom district, Fars Province, southern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May to November 2010), 55 rodents in four regions of Jahrom focus were caught and checked for leishmania infection by the microscopical examination of liver, spleen, ears, and footpads' smears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 18 Meriones persicus, 15 Tatera indica, 14 Mus musculus, and 8 Rattus rattus were caught. Totally, four (16.5%) and two (13.3%) of the Me. persicus and Ta. indica, but only one of Mu. musculus and Ra. rattus were found smear-positive for leishmania amastigotes, respectively. In the nested-PCR assay 8 (14.6%) smears were found positive for Leishmania major, none was found positive for any other Leishmania species. Sequencing based detection of Leishmania confirmed the microscopic and PCR findings. All positive specimens were shown 95-96% similarity with L. major Friedlin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tatera indica and Me. persicus are incriminated as the main 'reservoir' hosts of L. major in the rural area of Jahrom, moreover, Mu. musculus and Ra. rattus have the minor but remarkable role in the maintenance of the disease in the urban regions of Jahrom focus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davami
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Motazedian
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Mamasani Paramedical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalantari
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Qasem
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sotoodeh-Jahromi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors.forename: Kavous
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Solhjoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pourahmad
keywords: Iran; Leishmania; PCR; Rodent; Sequencing