Determination of leishmanial infection in visceral leishmaniasis reservoir hosts using pcr and based on its-rdna gene in endemic areas of north khorasan province.
1. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute Iran. 2. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute Iran. 3. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute Iran. 4. Department of patobiology , Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction
Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is one of the most important, neglected zoonotic parasitic diseases in iran which most commonly occurs in children under the age of 10 years. dogs are known as the main reservoir hosts and leishmania infantum is the main causative agent of this disease in iran. considering that the reservoirs are generally asymptomatic and iran is endemic foci of vl, it is essential to firmly determine the infection in reservoirs. pcr is a sensitive and specific diagnostic method for detecting parasites, and its-rdna gene is more commonly used to identify leishmania parasite than other genes.
Methods
Conjunctiva and snout swabs along with blood samples from canines were conducted from different regions of north khorasan province. pcr was performed targeting its-rdna gene to determine the contamination.
Results
5 of 37 dogs were leishmania positive during summer of 2018. after sequencing leishmania infantum was firmly identified as the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in northern khorasan province.
Conclusion
Studies indicated spleen and bone marrow holds the highest amount of parasites. conjunctiva, oral mucosa and blood samples contain significantly high amounts of leishmania infections and since sampling is less invasive its more suitable method for live samples. its-rdna gene due to its low intracellular polymorphism and readable is a suitable gene for leishmanial detection.
