ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the co-detection of natural infection of Trypanosomatidae parasites such as Leishmania and Crithidia in reservoir hosts of leishmaniasis. Methods: Rodent populations were monitored in two endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis of Fars province, southern Iran from March to October 2016. Rodents were trapped alive in several parts of Shiraz and Kharameh cities. Afterwards, their organs were prepared for detection of Leishmania and Crithidia species by molecular, microscopic, and culture methods. Results: Totally, 115 rodents of five species; Tatera indica (T. indica) (85), Rattus rattus (12), Meriones libycus (9), Mus musculus (7), and Rattus norvegicus (2), were trapped alive and their tissue samples were examined using microscopic, cultivation, and molecular assays. Overall, 59 (51.3%) rodents were positive for Leishmania or Crithidia parasites. The highest rate (61.2%; 52/85) of Leishmania infection was related to the T. indica population. The cultivation, and molecular observations showed that two (2.4%; 2/85) of T. indica (foot-pad, and spleen samples) were positive to Crithidia. Conclusions: This is the first report of Crithidia infection in T. indica in Iran. Consequently, more epidemiological and ecological studies are needed to understand the role of Crithidia and Leishmania in T. indica.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [CL] is endemic in many parts of Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the fauna and some biologic factors of sand flies and detect CL vector[s] in Kharameh district which is one of the most important foci of the disease in Fars province, southern Iran
Methods: To identify the fauna, a total of 1549 sand flies were collected from April 2014 to March 2015. To determine the monthly activity, sand flies were collected from indoor and outdoor areas of the lowland and the highland regions
Results: Ten species of phlebotomine [four Phlebotomus spp. And six Sergentomyia spp.] were identified and Phlebotomus papatasi was the dominant species [53.45%]. To determine the sand flies naturally infected by Leishmania spp., 188 female sand flies [145 P. papatasi, 29 P. sergenti, and 14 P. alexandri] were subjected to polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay. Two [13.16%] specimens of P. papatasi were found to be positive for Leishmania major
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first PCR detection of L. major within naturally infected P. Papatasis and fly as the main vector in this region of south Iran
ABSTRACT
Objective: To identify the anti-Toxoplasma antibodies from blood donors who referred to blood transfusion bases of Jahrom County, using ELISA method. Methods: Based on the prevalence and characteristics method, 400 serum samples were collected from blood donors referred to Jahrom blood transfusion bases, Southern Iran, during 2010-2011, designed at testing by ELISA. IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were tested using ELISA kits (Dia-Pro) on serums. The data were analysed by SPSS 19 software. Results: Review of 400 cases, 54 of them were IgG positive for parasites (13.5%) and 346 of those with negative IgG (86.5%). In IgM examination, 1.75% of them have been positive IgM (7 cases) and 98.25% of them were IgM negative (393 cases). By comparing the different group ages, 40-50 year age group had the highest prevalence of IgG positive (17.9%) and the age group of 30-40 years had the highest incidence of IgM negative (2.5%). Conclusions: Due to the serological infection rate of toxoplasmosis obtained from this study, toxoplasmosis should be considered as a significant transfusion risk factor in Jahrom and also in any region with similar situations.
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Objective:To examine the fauna of rodents as zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis reservoir hosts in Zarqan County, Fars Province, south of Iran, during 2012. Methods:During 2012, wild rodents from different parts of this region were caught by Sherman traps and checked by the examination of liver and spleen smears, for Leishmania infection, to see which species were acting as reservoir hosts;the slides were then processed to extract DNA for molecular test using PCR assay. Results:From 108 rodent species caught, 63%were male and 37%identified as female. Meriones libycus was the most abundant species caught (80.5%) and 5.7%of them were found to be smear-positive for Leishmania amastigotes. The other species were Rattus rattus (14.8%) and Mus musculus (4.7%), but none of them were found positive. Leishmania infection was observed in male and female samples microscopically. Moreover, molecular results revealed Leishmania major in three male and two female specimens. Conclusions:Based on our knowledge, Meriones libycus is incriminated as the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania major in the rural area of Zarqan.
ABSTRACT
Background: Geographical distribution of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis [ZCL] has continuously been extended in recent years in Iran. The Beiza District is one of the newly-emerged endemic foci of ZCL in southern Iran. The main aim of the present study was to detect the vector[s] of ZCL in this area
Methods: To detect the fauna and vectors of ZCL in this district, sand flies were caught using sticky papers. Seventy randomly selected female sand flies out of 730 were molecularly investigated for Leishmania infection using species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay between April and October 2010
Results: A total of 2543 sand flies were caught. The fauna was identified as 10 species [five Phlebotomus spp. and five Sergentomyia spp.]. Phlebotomus papatasi was the most dominant species both indoors and outdoors [37.55% and 16.35%, respectively]. L. major was detected in 5 out of 48 investigated Phlebotomus papatasi [10.41%]. Sequence-based characterization was carried out to confirm the PCR findings. The positive samples were shown to have 75-88% similarity with L. major sequences in GenBank
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, similar to the other foci of ZCL in Iran, P. papatasi is the proven and primary vector of CL. This study could be drawn upon for future strategy planning in this newly emerged endemic focus
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous leishmaniasis or oriental sore has continuously expanded during the recent years in the country. Jask County in the easternmost point of Hormozgan province with 245 cases in 2007 has been the main focus of the disease. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of Gerbillus nanus as the reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this center. In a cross-sectional study during 2007-2008, rodents were caught from infected villages and after anesthesia, two slides were prepared from each ear of rodents using abrasive grinding and after recording morphometric specifications, their liver and spleen were kept in the 70% ethanol and the rest of the body was kept in 10% formalin for identification. Studies to determine leishmania infection were conducted through microscopic and molecular techniques. DNA was extracted through phenol/chloroform/lsoamyl alcohol method and it was proliferated through Nested-PCR method with primers LINR4, LIN17 and LIN19. A total of 106 rodents were caught. Species Gerbillus nanus [Muridae: Gerbillinae], with 17 heads, included 16.03% of haunting. Leishmania infection was found in a male sample of this species of rodent through microscopic method and two male and female samples [11.76%] through molecular method and specific PCR specified the parasite Leishmania major. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in this center is of zoonotic or damp type with leishmania major agent and therodentGerbillus nanus will be introduced in Hormozgan province for the first time as a possible reservoir host of the disease in this center. Infection of this species with Leishmaniamajoris reported for the first time in the world.