ABSTRACT
Molecular epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis [VL] is currently used widely for different objectives such as vector incrimination studies. In this study three different loci including kinetoplast DNA [kDNA], ribosomal DNA [rDNA], cystein protease B [CPB[ of Leishmania parasite genome were used for detection and identification of natural infection of sand flies of Germi district of Ardebil province, the most important VL or Kala-azar foci in Iran. The results showed that the three loci of kDNA, rDNA and CPBs are respectively more appropriate for leptomonad infection/initial screening, identification of the L.donovani complex, and discrimination of the species complex. It was also verified that both members of the complex, L.donovani and L.infantum, are present in the study area and are transmitted to the hosts by Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus sandflies. This is the first report on natural infection of sand flies to L.donovani in the country and since the ecology and biology of L.donovani differs extensively from L.infantum, it is necessary to perform further studies to highlight the role of L.donovani in epidemiology of VL in the region and country