1. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. 2. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. 3. Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction
phlebotomus papatasi is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (zcl) in iran. the molecular typing of leishmania parasites among p. papatasi, along with their molecular variation including haplotypes are ambiguous in large geographical scale of zcl foci.
Methods
Sandflies were sampled, dnas extracted and fragments of its-rdna, kdna and microsatellite genes of leishmania were amplified by pcr. rflp, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were employed to accurately identify leishmania and any haplotype of its-rdna gene.
Results
Leishmania infections were found within female p. papatasi in four well known different endemic zcl foci (81 / 1083). l. major (70/81) with more variation of its-rdna (nine haplotypes) and l. turanica (5/81) with no molecular variation with one haplotype were identified firmly.
Conclusion
L. major had a high frequency and more molecular variation whilst, l. turanica was found and characterized with low frequency and no variation in p. papatasi. this is important in realizing the distributions of leishmania parasites in p. papatasi in iran and elsewhere. although l. turanica was found in sandflies, reservoir hosts and human; its role in zcl cycle is yet unknown. more studies are designed for understanding the conceivable role of l. turanica as mammals leishmania.
