First report on natural Leishmania infection of Phlebotomus sergenti due Leishmania tropica by high resolution melting curve method in South-eastern Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To identify the Leishmania species in infected sand flies by Real-time PCR coupled with HRM analysis.@*METHODS@#Real-time PCR coupled with HRM analysis targeting the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as the genetic marker was used to identify and distinguish Leishmania species in sand flies specimens.@*RESULTS@#Three out of 115 females of Phlebotomus sergenti (P. sergenti) (2.6%) were positive to Leishmania tropica (L. tropica).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This is the first report on P. sergenti as the main and proven vector of anthroponitic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Dehbakri County using Real-time PCR coupled with HRM analysis. This method is rapid, sensitive and specific for diagnosing of parasites in infected Sand flies and ideal for large scale genotyping projects.