Molecular technique for detection of Leishmania infantum isolates in Iran

Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of autochthonous cutaneous and visceral cases of leishmaniasis and transmitted by female sandflies. The dogs are considered the main reservoir hosts; however, there are the reports on Leishmania infection in other animals. In this study, occurrence types of L. infantum isolates have been analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

In this experimental study, 77 samples were cultured and prepared for microscopic study and examined through PCR-RFLP. The samples were used for both deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and smear-slide preparations. The DNAs were amplified by PCR for the detection of Leishmania subgenus and PCR products were restricted with HaeIII for the species differentiation.

The visceral Leishmania parasites were genotyped as L. infantum. It was also determined sensitivity in PCR (100%) was higher than microscopic examination.

PCR-RFLP technique appears to be most sensitive for the detection and differentiation of L. infantum. There exists a relationship between genetic heterogeneousness and clinical manifestation and geographical regions of this disease in human.